Pathologist Favor Legislative Bill To Limit Fees

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some pathologists say their fellow doctors are charging too much for biopsies and are backing a bill to limit profits made on the medical procedures. <br/><br/>Under the measure, doctors

Saturday, May 6th 2006, 5:46 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some pathologists say their fellow doctors are charging too much for biopsies and are backing a bill to limit profits made on the medical procedures.

Under the measure, doctors wouldn't be able to charge more than the amount billed by a pathologist for procedures such as biopsies and pap smears.

Blood and urine pathology isn't included in the legislation.

Pathologist Richard Boatsman says some practitioners have been marking up the cost of some biopsy reports 200 or 300 percent. He says the markups are unethical.

The bill was introduced in the state Senate by Senator Constance Johnson and has been sent to a joint House-Senate conference committee.