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A new study provides a look at the levels of such similarity between married partners when it comes to their heart health, in hopes of finding ways to lead more people to be like the Kellys.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Researchers examined five years of biometric measurements and blood test data from 5,364 couples. The researchers then charted how each partner measured up against seven modifiable risk factors for heart disease (smoking, exercise, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol and fasting glucose) and for overall cardiovascular health.

Quest Diagnostics and Memorial Hermann Health System, a leading not-for-profit health system that includes 17 hospitals and more than 300 care delivery sites in the Greater Houston region, today announced a multi-pronged, long-term collaboration intended to broaden access to innovative, high-value laboratory services for providers and patients in Greater Houston.

Doctors worry that a second drug epidemic is on the horizon, according to a recent survey. We’re still amid the opioid crisis, but 62 percent of the primary care physicians queried say it’s likely to morph into a whole new emergency, this time fueled by prescription drug misuse.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Physicians in that survey, conducted by the Center on Addiction and Quest Diagnostics, were focused on people in chronic pain who, deprived of opioids, may find relief by turning to other prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines like Valium. That’s a critical concern, but there’s another important issue that requires our urgent attention: Too many teens and young adults don’t understand that the drugs we count on to treat our medical problems can be dangerous if misused.

Quest Diagnostics today announced that it has acquired Blueprint Genetics in an all-cash equity transaction. Blueprint Genetics is a leading specialty genetic testing company with deep expertise in gene variant interpretation based on next generation sequencing (NGS) and proprietary bioinformatics. Together, Quest and Blueprint Genetics will broaden access to actionable insights in genetic and rare diseases, improving patient care and pharmaceutical drug research and development. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

You decided to screen workers for drug use because you want to maintain a safe and productive workplace. But what should you do when workers flunk the test? Should employees be fired, given another chance or referred to an employee assistance program? Employment attorneys say consistency is the key.[CR-LF][CR-LF]"Employers should have strong policies in place addressing whether or under what circumstances they will engage in dialogue with an employee or applicant who fails a drug test," said Jill Vorobiev, an attorney with Reed Smith in Chicago. Policies also should take into account any state laws that may apply to failed drug tests and whether the employer might need to make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities, she said.

Twenty-three New Jersey companies have been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.[CR-LF][CR-LF]According to the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, more than 680 companies were assessed and designated with the honor for their efforts in satisfying four criteria ⁠— non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, corporate social responsibility and responsible citizenship ⁠—earning them a score of 100%. Quest is included in this list.

Quest Diagnostics today announced that it has been selected as one of FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year.

From makeup and oils to capsules for stress relief, cannabis-based goods are flowing into the marketplace. But while they may not get you high, they can still cause you problems at work. Cannabidiol or CBD has been showing up in a widening array of goods. That's because federal legislation in 2018 deemed that hemp - one of its sources - was not an illegal controlled substance.

Employers must provide a safe work environment, and they want to ensure their employees are productive, but is maintaining a drug-testing program in furtherance of these goals worth the hassle? The answer may depend on the workplace.[CR-LF][CR-LF]"You have to consider the needs of the business, in addition to any applicable state laws," said Anne-Marie Welch, an attorney with Clark Hill in Birmingham, Mich. Some employers are federal contractors or hire drivers and have to follow specific drug-free workplace laws. Other employers are struggling to find qualified employees or want to maintain a certain culture and think that drug testing—particularly for marijuana—will hinder their ability to attract and retain talent.

LabCorp and Quest went into 2019 predicting some upsides to the Protecting Access to Medicare Act​ (PAMA), which is driving down how much Medicare pays for tests. The clinical laboratory leaders objected to the price cuts but felt they were better equipped to cope with them than smaller rivals, creating opportunities to consolidate the market.[CR-LF][CR-LF]However, the anticipated surge in acquisitions of local and hospital laboratories never materialized. Adam Schechter, who took over as CEO of LabCorp in November, discussed some reasons for lack of M&A activity during a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Tuesday.