​

Why did I receive a Centre Pathology Associates bill on a specimen?

​

For most procedures, you will receive two bills for the two components of the procedure. One bill is from Centre Pathology Associates which represents the pathologist’s fee for professional services. The other bill is from the hospital (Mount Nittany Medical Center).  This covers the technical component of handling and processing the specimen.

​

The majority of pathology services are covered under most insurance plans. Typically, your doctor's office will send us your insurance information along with your specimen.  Centre Pathology will bill your insurance directly for our services. Insurance plans are often very complicated with various co-pays and deductible requirements.  You may receive a bill depending upon those requirements.

​​​

Why did I receive a Centre Pathology Associates bill on a laboratory test?

​

Pathologists provide valuable and necessary medical services for all patients for which they assume medical responsibility and legal liability. Pathologists ensure that the results of laboratory tests are timely, medically reliable, and clinically useful. Federal law mandates that all clinical laboratories have a medical director. See the 'What is a pathologist' link for further details.

​

Why did my insurance deny the Centre Pathology Associates claim?

​

Denials for laboratory administrative services occur when private insurance companies do not follow Medicare policies in error. Medicare pays pathologists for laboratory administrative services through Medicare Part A. For non-Medicare patients the billing of the professional component by pathologists for administrative services is very common. The American Medical Association (AMA), The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) all support this practice.

​

What if Centre Pathology is not in-network with my insurance?

 

The No Surprises act prevents us from "balance billing". Balance billing is the term used when a provider bills a patient for the difference between the provider's fees and the amount a health insurance plan allows.  If  a patient chooses an in-network facility or provider, but someone, like the lab or pathologist, is out-of-network, the No Surprises Act requires these services to be covered at the same rate they would be by an in-network provider.

​

Source: The No Surprises Act. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/laws-regulations-notices/no-surprises-act

​

Other Billing Questions?

 

For the technical component please contact the Mount Nittany Medical Center billing department.

​

For the professional Centre Pathology component: 

- If your date of service was before October 1st 2025:  Phone number: 1-800-899-5757 (Hawthorn billing service)

- If your date of service was October 1st 2025 or later:  Phone number: 582-205-0595 (Engage billing service)

​

Need to mail a check?

Centre Pathology Associates

PO Box 646034  500 1st Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15264-6034​

​

​

​

​

​