Competitive bidding for laboratory services, supplies, and equipment.

A procompetition approach to reducing health care costs has moved from the discussion stage to implementation. The Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1981 called for competitive bidding for laboratory services. The Health Care Financing Administration recently awarded a contract to the Center for Health Policy Studies for the development of a competitive bidding system for clinical laboratory services. In 1981 an ASMT Task Force appointed by the Chair of the Government Liaison Committee developed the following White Paper on Competitive Bidding for Laboratory Services, Supplies, and Equipment. The Paper was considered for comment by the 1982 ASMT House of Delegates and adopted by the Board of Directors in October, 1982. This paper provides members of the Society with practical information on using the competitive bidding process in their own work setting. The Chairman of the Task Force was Walter Valliere of Houston, TX, with the final revisions of the Paper being prepared by John P. Smith of Wichita, KS.