Reimbursement for autopsies. A personal view.

Postmortem examinations have been reimbursed under Part A of Medicare and as a reimbursable expense of the pathology department by Blue Cross. As diagnostic-related group reimbursement is implemented, hospitals are likely to cut costs by reducing the number of autopsies. Third-party payers representing the private sector will protect the interests of their subscribers or clients by excluding autopsies from coverage. To preserve the clearly demonstrable benefits that the autopsy has for the community, it will be necessary to include the autopsy as a cost of research and education. There are other costs that traditionally have been subsidized by insurance that must also be shifted to research and education. The challenge for the College of American Pathologists is to work with those with similar interests to develop funding separate and distinct from health insurance.