BORDER Pathology staff face an uncertain future with the pre-Christmas shock of a takeover by rival provider Dorevitch.
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The company, which was founded by 35 Border-based medical practitioners in 2009, could close as early as Wednesday.
It has a staff of more than 40, but Dorevitch has confirmed 31 employees will transfer from Border Pathology.
Border Pathology management couldn't be reached for comment on Thursday.
But Dorevitch chief executive officer Neville Moller confirmed its takeover of Border Pathology.
He said cutbacks in Medicare funding for pathology services over the last five years of 12 per cent and the scale of Border Pathology had left the business vulnerable.
"As recent as Tuesday this week the Federal Government announced further funding cuts to pathology Medicare rebates of $650 million over four years," Mr Moller said.
"Dorevitch Pathology has provided pathology services to the Albury-Wodonga region, caring for the diagnostic needs of the community for nearly 40 years.
"It currently employs over 130 employees in the region including 3 pathologists and will transfer an additional 31 employees from Border Pathology into its operation."
Mr Moller said, subject to finalisation of the sale, Dorevitch Pathology would transition most of the Border Pathology collection centres.
"They will operate as normal with Dorevitch Pathology collection centres so the public have full access to pathology collection services," he said.
“The only way a quality, affordable, regional pathology service will survive locally into the future, with continuing Government cutbacks, is for a major provider to have the size and scale to operate successfully.
"I would hope that doctors and the community continue to support Dorevitch Pathology as their local pathology provider into the future as they have done so for the last 40 years."
About a year after Border Pathology was launched, Dorevitch made an unsuccessful takeover bid with chairman Scott Giltrap making a plea for doctors to send more routine tests its way.
Border Pathology has collection centres in Albury-Wodonga, Lavington, Jindera, Holbrook, Wangaratta, Tallangatta, Yackandandah and Corryong.
Its laboratory is located near the Albury-Wodonga Private Hospital in West Albury.
South West Pathology was forced to shut in 2012 with the loss of 14 jobs.
It serviced Albury Base Hospital until Albury Wodonga Health called for tenders for pathology services at both hospitals and Dorevitch won the tender in 2010.
The Federal Government revealed in a budget update this week that it would save $650 million over four years by removing subsidies for pathology.
