PDS-Q USER GUIDE

August 2015

Introduction
Welcome to BeaconLBS and congratulations on taking the next step in compliance for the
UnitedHealthcare Laboratory Benefit Management Protocol. UnitedHealthcare and BeaconLBS have
worked with your corporate office to bring you an easy and workflow friendly system.
Importance of the United Healthcare Advance Notification Protocol:
The Advanced Notification Protocol went into effect November 1, 20014 with claims impact to
rendering labs effective April 15, 2015. Advanced notification is required for 79 specific tests (see
link on page 11 for list). Ordering providers must advance notify the 79 specific tests for lab benefit
consideration and payment! UHC has mandated compliance no later than 60 days from the effective
date.

Before Starting:
Your training has been designed so you can learn in a real environment and use it immediately. The
content is straight and to the point and should take you no more than 15 minutes to learn. We have
provided you with two different formats ( guide and video) so you can choose which suits your
learning needs the best.
As a note you should print page 14, the Provider Checklist/Job Aid. This checklist will be invaluable
as you walk through the demonstration or the User Guide and marking each step as you process your
first claim in a real environment. It has been created so that you can use it on a daily basis as a
reminder of the steps as you learn. Before long you will be able to perform like a pro!

How PDS-Q works:

PDS-Q is a retrospective system. This means providers will order labs in their usual way with no
interruption to work flow. The PDS-Q works with our Laboratories of Choice. What you order today
will be in your queue tomorrow when you log into the BeaconLBS portal. All you will be required to
do is 1) click submit or 2) answer clinical Q&A and submit depending on the type of lab order. Watch
for an email from donotreply@beaconlbs.com for notification that you have claims in your queue. You
may want to check you junk mail for the first few days of activation and mark "not junk".
The attached user guide will walk you through all the steps and we have included a video
demonstration link for your convenience.

Video demonstration
We have provided a short video demonstration which provides a short overview of the PDS-Q system
in action. To access: click here

System Requirements:
The BeaconLBS Lab Benefit Solutions supports the following Operating Systems and Web Browsers
for the version shown in the following table:
Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows 7

Web Browsers and Versions Supported

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and

3.5

Microsoft Windows
Vista

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 and Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and

8.0
3.5

Microsoft Windows XP

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 and Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and

8.0
3.5

Apple Mac OC X 10.6

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and

3.5

Apple Mac OC X 10.5

Mozilla Firefox 3.5

Apple Safari
4.0

Note: Be sure that you have enabled cookies, JavaScript, and pop -ups in your browser.

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
Before Starting: ................................................................................................................................................... 2
How PDS-Q works: .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Video demonstration .......................................................................................................................................... 2
System Requirements: ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Logging In ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
PDS-Q Bridge........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Action 1: No Q&A ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Action 2: Clinical Q&A: .................................................................................................................................... 7
Submitting....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Decision Support Inbox ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
To Print a Notification ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Quick Search ................................................................................................................................................... 9
To Edit a Submitted Lab Order ..................................................................................................................... 10
Additional Information and Links ......................................................................................................................... 11
PDS Outcome Summary Status Definitions ................................................................................................. 11
Outcome Summary Status ............................................................................................................................ 12
Links ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
1-800-377-8809 ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Provider Checklist/Job Aid ............................................................................................................................ 14

Logging In
The system works with:
Google Chrome
Internet Explorer
Safari
Note: Ensure that cookies, JavaScript
and pop-ups are enabled in your
browser.

------------------------------------To Log on for the first time:

1. Go to: www.beaconlbs.com
2. Click Physician Login (this
will take you to the User
Login Page)
3. Enter the User ID and
Password previously sent to
you.
4. Click Physician Log In

Note: Do Not Use

Advanced Notification Start
button is only used if the
physician or organization has
not previously registered into
the system.
See Registration Guide if
registering your
Organization/Physician
Practice for the first time.

PDS-Q Bridge
After logging in you will be
directed straight to the PDSQ Bridge.
The bridge will show:
1. Number of tests
submitted the night
before to the LOC
2. Patient information
3. DOS
4. Test Name
5. Test Code
6. Ordering provider
To start: Click anywhere
on a patient lab order

Action 1a

Two possible actions will

take place according to the
lab order.
Action 1: No Q&A:

1. Two Status types may

appear:
a. Proceed -orb. Alert
2. Click Submit with either
Alert
Action 1b

Note: Since the PDS-Q is

created after the order, the
user will need to submit
the order regardless of the
status. When clicking
Submit the advanced
notification has been
completed, sending a copy
to UnitedHealthcare and the
designated lab
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Action 2
Action 2: Clinical Q&A:

2. Q & A (automatically
appears if the order has
clinical requirements)
c. Answer Questions
d. Click Continue
e. Click Submit
Submitting

Note: Since the PDS-Q is

retrospective, the user will
need to submit the order
regardless of the status.
(See Page 8 to edit an Alert
notification)
When clicking Submit the
advanced notification has been
completed, sending a copy to
United Healthcare and the
designated lab

Note on Submitting
The Outcome Summary is
for internal purpose only.
Once submitted whether
Option 1 or Option 2
performed- the Outcome
summary will appear. The
user can close this page.

Reminder:
When clicking the Submit
button-the advanced
notification will
automatically be sent to
United Healthcare and the
performing lab.
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Decision Support Inbox

Overview

Once the lab order advanced

notification has been
submitted, the user can always
retrieve or review the
Advanced Notification
through the inbox at the top of
page.

Reminder: The Decision

Support Inbox will only
display the patients to which
the user has location access.
1. Click on Decision
Support Inbox Tab.
2. You will then enter the
Decision Support Inbox

Quick Search

Users can perform a quick

search by
member name
Subscriber ID
Case Number
Physician name
Prior Auth (BRCA)
Users can perform a quick
search by

Time Frame
Status

Data will default by Visit Date.

Users can reorganize in
ascending or descending order for
easier viewing:

Member name
Visit Date
Physician name
Last Edited By (user)

To Print a Notification:

There are two options to print

1. Click on the PDF icon and the
order will open
2. Click the beside the PDF
icon then click the Print Selected
Option 2 allows the user to print
up 5 orders at one time without
opening the order.
9

To Edit a Submitted Lab Order:

PDSQ lab orders are retrospective;

the lab order must be finalized AS-IS
before editing.
1. Click on the Case number to open
the order
2. Click the Amend button
There are three data sections
1. Ordering Physician

2. Diagnosis
3. Tests and panel
Modification can be made to the
diagnosis ONLY- if there is an Alert3. Add any additional diagnoses that
apply to the patient to support
medical necessity.
4. Click the Continue button
5. Click the Submit button as we did
in previous steps

Note: If any modification is required

such as adding a diagnosis- contact
the Lab with the information or fax
amended Outcome Summary to:
LabCorp: 1-336-436-1007

10

Additional Information and Links

PDS Outcome Summary Status Definitions
BeaconLBS neither approves nor denies testing; we are administrators for the UHC Advanced
Notification Protocol Only. BeaconLBS technology helps providers make informed test-selection and
lab-selection based on evidence-based guidelines and industry best-practices, as well as UHC policy.
Proceed*: Meets all UHC algorithms
Accepted*: NON-Beacon Decision
Support test

Alert*: Point of Order Privileging

A test not normally ordered by this
type of physician

Alert*: Alternative Test:

Testing algorithms show alterative test
may be considered. Click on the test
name and UHC Clinical Guidelines
will be available for review.

Alert*: Physician Decision Support

Responses to the Clinical Q&A do not
meet the criteria by UHC Clinical
Guidelines
Click on the test name and UHC
Clinical Guidelines will be available
for review.
11

Alert*: Medical Policy or

Conditional Management
1. One or more lab tests may not be
supported by UHC medical policy
2. ICD-9 to CPT mismatch

Outcome Summary Status

Example Alert: Medical Policy
or Conditional Management
1. One or more lab tests may not be
supported by UHC medical policy
2. ICD-9 to CPT mismatch
A patient Financial
Acknowledgement will be created
within the Outcome Summary for
patient signature

ANY ALERT WILL NOT STOP

THE PROVIDER FROM
ORDERING ANY TEST

Any Clinical Q&A requirements

for any lab service will appear on
the completed notification. Both
united Healthcare and the
rendering lab will receive the
answers provided.

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Links

UnitedHealthcare:
UnitedHealthcare Laboratory Benefit Management Program
UnitedHealthcare Laboratory Benefit Management Program Administrative Protocol
Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions:

BeaconLBS Website
BeaconLBS Registration Guide
BeaconLBS Test Ordering User Guide
Physician Decision Support Test List
BeaconLBS Support
askbeacon@askbeacon.com
1-800-377-8809

13

Provider Checklist/Job Aid

The job aid below is provided to assist in learning and acknowledging the steps to completing the PDS-Q on a
daily basis.
Name:
User ID:
Job Aid objectives to complete in the PDS-Q Portal

Temporary Password :
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1. To properly login to the BeaconLBS portal, I have:

entered the website
entered my credentials
Clicked the Physician Log in button
2.

To open a lab order upon entering the queue:

Click anywhere on the order

3. To submit a lab order to UnitedHealthcare and the
rendering lab, upon opening the order I have:
Q&A order (only)
Q&A order (only) answered all applicable questions
Clicked the continue button at bottom of page
Clicked the Submit button, sending a copy to UHC and
the lab
Non Q&A orders: I have:
Clicked the Submit button sending a copy to UHC and
the lab
4. To edit a claim I have:
Finalized and Submitted the claim
entered the Physician Decision Support Inbox
located the lab order
clicked on the case number, opening the claim
at the bottom of claim, clicked on amend
made required modifications to diagnosis
clicked the continue button
clicked submit-(the notification will appear)
print and fax to: 1-336-436-1007 (LabCorp Labs,
notification dept)
5. To print an edited a claim, I have:
entered the Physician Decision Inbox, located the
finalized patient lab order
clicked the PDF icon
followed directions to print per my computer
6. Ensuring all lab orders have been finalized and
submitted to UHC and lab
Before logging out of the system, the queue shows zero
orders remaining

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