[Hematologic and hemostatic tests availability in view of remuneration for medical services]

Hematologic and hemostatic tests are important and indispensable for diagnosing any kind of hematologic disease. Recent advances in hematologic tests are seen in automation of the blood cell counts and morphological analyses that are required for diagnosing hematologic diseases, and in the accumulation and availability of genetic and chromosomal examinations related to their diagnosis. Although hemostatic tests used to be mainly aimed at checking bleeding tendency, they are now being directed toward diagnosing thrombotic tendency. Medical expenses have hardly been increased in past revisions of reimbursement schedules for medical services, which has driven hospital management into an even tighter corner. In the field of laboratory examination, test fees were heavily slashed and calculated on an all-inclusive basis, forcing budgetary restrictions on the management of test laboratories. I discuss the medical reimbursement for hematologic and hemostatic tests, focusing on the fiscal 2002 revision of the medical service fee schedule implemented in April.