NEWARK, N.J. and SECAUCUS, N.J., Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) announced today that it is expanding its laboratory network by adding Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) as an in-network provider of diagnostic information services for 2.8 million members of Horizon BCBSNJ.

Quest has more than 300 patient access points in New Jersey for Horizon BCBSNJ members and will be in network beginning January 1, 2019. Quest will serve all Horizon members with the exception of Horizon BCBSNJ's managed Medicaid and Dual Eligible Special Needs ("DSNP") plan beneficiaries.

"Lab testing is an integral part of the patient health care experience, as physicians rely on timely and accurate results to make important diagnostic and treatment decisions," said Allen Karp, Executive Vice President for Healthcare and Transformation Management for Horizon BCBSNJ. "Adding Quest Diagnostics to our lab network will benefit Horizon members because an expanded network can mean quicker and easier access to the lab of their choice. The increased access will also reduce the number of 'out of network' claims, which will lower costs," Karp said.

"We look forward to serving Horizon BCBS and its members and providers," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quest Diagnostics. "New Jersey is our home, and it's great that two healthcare leaders and major employers are partnering to improve health outcomes and reduce costs for New Jerseyans."

Quest employs 2,700 people in New Jersey at its headquarters in Secaucus, its flagship regional lab in Teterboro, and field operations throughout the state.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from a robust research and development program and the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 45,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. For more information, please visit www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.8 million members. 

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics