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More affordable procedure costs, shorter wait times, higher quality – everyone wants these things from their health care experience. UnitedHealthcare’s Triple Aim focus – improving health care affordability, outcomes and the patient experience – is now adding more value for lab services. Launching on July 1, 2019, UnitedHealthcare has selected the following labs to participate in its PLN: AmeriPath/DermPath, BioReference, GeneDx, Invitae, LabCorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Quest Diagnostics. These labs were selected based on a rigorous quality review process.

Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

In 2015, Quest Diagnostics—which has a self-insured employee benefits team—set out on a new path to try to control healthcare costs while maintaining program quality and promoting population health for its employees.[CR-LF][CR-LF]After almost four years, the results of Quest’s group health insurance program were reported in Population Health Management, outlining the collaboration with a health plan and pharmacy benefits manager to practice the “triple aim” of improving the patient healthcare experience, boosting population health and reducing per capita healthcare spending.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The program had a big impact, even in year one. Through proactive changes, physician executive leadership, health plan collaboration, disease-specific population health initiatives and plan design, Quest’s annual healthcare costs steadily improved.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that it was selected by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers of 2019. [CR-LF][CR-LF]Quest was among one of only fifteen companies in the Health Care Equipment and Services category to attain the designation.[CR-LF][CR-LF]"Our vision of empowering better health with diagnostic insights is built on the diverse talents of our 46,000 employees, said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO. "It's nice to see that for the third straight year the steps we are taking to create an inspiring workplace are being noticed. Led by our people, the Quest brand is inspiring better health outcomes."

As Massachusetts health care becomes increasingly dominated by large health systems, more than a dozen community hospitals are banding together in a new partnership. Under the arrangement, called the Massachusetts Value Alliance, hospitals are working together to slash costs by buying some supplies and services together. By teaming up, they have greater leverage in negotiating prices with vendors that sell equipment, software, and other things hospitals need. Several of the hospitals have signed a contract with Quest Diagnostics, a company that processes blood tests. The arrangement allowed the hospitals to lower their costs by contracting together — South Shore said it is saving more than $100,000 a year — while Quest gained a larger customer with more tests to process. Previously, the hospitals each had separate contracts for lab work.

Quest Diagnostics has launched three new test kits for sexually transmitted diseases that consumers can order and purchase online directly, within the privacy of their own home. Research has shown that many people and some providers are reluctant to discuss STD screening and disease risks. Quest aims to circumvent this through its QuestDirect program, with its first at-home tests covering the most prevalent STDs in the U.S.—including HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomonas—and starting at $49 for an individual test. Completing the tests, however, still requires walking in to one of Quest’s patient service centers, including some in grocery stores and retail locations. The kits are now available in the continental U.S., with results available online typically within one week, the company said.

Office happy hours are getting a twist in states where recreational weed is legal, with employees celebrating the end of the workweek by lighting up or snacking on edibles. Most of these companies are in the cannabis business and have offices in pot-friendly states such as Colorado, California, and Oregon (recreational marijuana is legal in 10 states and Washington, DC).According to a recent survey by Drugabuse.com, one in five respondents said they've used marijuana recreationally in their place of work during work hours. A recent report by the clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics found the number of US workers and job applicants testing positive for drugs has hit a 14-year high, with marijuana-positive tests leading the way.

The Coast Guard has a message for mariners about to smoke a joint or use CBD (cannabidiol) oil: Don’t risk your job over it — no matter where you live. The growing number of states where some form of marijuana is legal prompted the agency to issue a bulletin this week reminding everyone that marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Ten states and the District of Columbia have approved recreational marijuana for adults, and more than half of all states have OK’d medical marijuana. Marijuana topped the list of most commonly detected illicit substances among U.S. workers, a recent analysis by Quest Diagnostics shows.

With the increased legalization of marijuana, many businesses and politicians are reconsidering workplace drug testing. Though drug testing likely won't disappear forever, experts predict the scope of testing will decrease — and they say the type of testing should change. Earlier this month, a report by clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics found the number of US workers and job applicants testing positive for drugs hit a 14-year high, with marijuana positivity leading the way.

The rate of positive drug tests for illicit substances among U.S. workers in 2018 reached a 14-year peak, with marijuana playing a significant role, according to the annual Drug Testing Index from lab services provider Quest Diagnostics. Researchers analyzed the results of more than 9 million drug tests. They found that 4.4% of the combined U.S. workforce (both the general workforce and employees who undergo federally mandated drug testing) tested positive – up from 4.2% in 2017 and 2016 and the highest since 2004, when the rate was 4.5%.

The rate of positive drug tests for illicit substances among U.S. workers in 2018 reached a 14-year peak, with marijuana playing a significant role, according to the annual Drug Testing Index from lab services provider Quest Diagnostics. Researchers analyzed the results of more than 9 million drug tests. They found that 4.4% of the combined U.S. workforce (both the general workforce and employees who undergo federally mandated drug testing) tested positive – up from 4.2% in 2017 and 2016 and the highest since 2004, when the rate was 4.5%.

In the latest look at stocks ordered by largest market capitalization, Russell 3000 component EXACT Sciences Corp. was identified as having a larger market cap than the smaller end of the S&P 500, for example Quest Diagnostics, Inc..

The Healthcare Technology Report is pleased to announce the Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2019. An extensive process was run to evaluate the hundreds of CEOs that lead exemplary organizations in the fields of medical devices, biotech, healthcare analytics, healthcare software and other related areas. We gathered data on each nominee’s professional background and assessed them across several key areas including breadth of leadership experience in the healthcare technology industry, level of expertise and domain knowledge in their particular field, depth of their executive team’s experience, and consistency of organizational performance. Steve Rusckowski is Chairman, President and CEO of Quest Diagnostics. He joined the Company as President and CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, Quest has refocused on its core diagnostic information services business, sold non-core assets, delivered disciplined deployment, including share repurchases and acquisitions, and simplified its organizational structure to better serve customers by removing complexity, speeding decision making and empowering employees. Previously, Stephen was CEO of Philips Healthcare, which became the largest unit of Royal Philips Electronics under his leadership. He joined Philips in 2001 when it acquired the Healthcare Solutions Group he was leading at Hewlett-Packard/Agilent Technologies.

Despite what crime shows depict, New York is less addicted to illegal substances than the other states except for one -- heroin. This is according to the latest data from the Drug Testing Index of Quest Diagnostics. The laboratory obtained the information from analyzing thousands of drug test results of the U.S. workforce from 2007 to 2018.

Workers tested positive for drugs in the workplace at the highest rate in 14 years in 2018, with marijuana use on the rise and opiate use declining, a new study found. An analysis by Quest Diagnostics found drug positivity rates increased nearly five percent in urine drug tests in 2018 and are now more than 25 percent higher than the 30-year low of 3.5 percent recorded between 2010 and 2012.

One of the arguments for legalization of marijuana is that it would help to ease the opiate epidemic, as marijuana could possibly alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms and mitigate pain. Some states have approved medical marijuana to treat opiate addiction. The study also found that marijuana use did not help to further alleviate pain. Another important data point comes from Quest Diagnostics, which provides testing services. Workplace testing results showed a 5% increase (2018/2012) in marijuana use in safety-sensitive workers and a related rise in the use of opiate painkillers, while the rate of positive opiate results for the broader workforce fell.

The Southern Women's Show has drawn crowds to Raleigh for 34 years, and Sunday's edition continued that tradition. The organization says the free screenings they offer are brief, but can reveal important information. The organization's tests include screenings for five risk factors associated with heart disease. "We get it done in about 15 minutes and we can tell them 'Ok, your blood pressure is this and your cholesterol is this, and we suggest that you go to the doctor,'" said Rosie Barretta of Quest Diagnostics.

It's been a pretty incredible ride for the marijuana movement over the past couple of years. After spending decades as a taboo topic that lawmakers almost always swept under the rug, cannabis has now become a mainstream issue. It's been legalized for adult consumption in Canada, has been given the green light in some medical capacity in more than 40 countries around the world, and has more support in the U.S. than at any point over the past 50 years, according to polling by Gallup. But there are some folks who might question that lawmakers are moving too far, too fast when it comes to the marijuana industry.his past week, Quest Diagnostics, a leading diagnostic testing firm, and the company responsible for testing millions of Americans a year in the workplace for illicit substances, released its latest analysis , known as the Drug Testing Index, on workplace drug usage.

In an older study conducted for news site KOAT7, microbiologist John Golobic of Quest Diagnostics randomly swabbed the beards of his test subjects and found evidence of gut bacteria commonly found in faeces. He added that whilst the beard bacteria wasn’t likely to cause illness, it was still “a little concerning”.

Workforce drug use continues to rise with positive drug tests hitting a 14-year high, according to new analysis from Quest Diagnostics. The diagnostic information services company released its report which details how rapid legalization efforts are impacting positivity rates. “Our in-depth analysis shows that marijuana is not only present in our workforce, but use continues to increase,” said Barry Sample, PhD, senior director, science and technology, Quest Diagnostics.

As questions of how and when adult-use marijuana will be legalized hang in the air in the Garden State, a new report finds that workforce drug positivity testing hit a 14-year high in 2018—with cannabis coming up as still the most commonly detected substance. Despite declines in affirmative results for opiates, oxycodones, heroin and cocaine, The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index released Thursday at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association in Chicago shows an increase in overall positivity results, results for the presence of marijuana, and for post-accident positivity testing results.

The U.S. rate of workforce drug positivity hit a 14-year high in 2018, according to a new analysis released April 11 by Quest Diagnostics. The company reported that positivity rates in the combined U.S. workforce increased nearly 5 percent in urine drug tests (4.2 percent in 2017 versus 4.4 percent in 2018), climbing to the highest level since 2004's 4.5 percent. And the rates are now more than 25 percent higher than the 30-year low of 3.5 percent recorded between 2010 and 2012.

Marijuana use is on the rise among US workers, a study from Quest Diagnostics found, increasing by 16% since 2014.

When Rye Electric was founded in Orange County five years ago, it screened all prospective workers for drugs. If a test showed traces of cannabis, the applicant was nixed. But the fast-growing construction company, which has a millennial-heavy workforce, has since adapted to the times. “We still do the tests,” Chief Executive Chris Golden said, “but we choose to look the other way on marijuana.” New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics, compiling data on 10 million tests a year, reports an increase in workers testing positive for pot, especially in states where recreational use is legal.

Our first job as parents is to keep our children alive and safe. We readily teach them to keep fingers out of electrical sockets and to look both ways before crossing. But when it comes to providing kids with some basic information about sexual health, many parents feel hesitant and embarrassed. As a result, they may avoid the subject entirely. Parents aren’t the only ones who have trouble discussing sex with youngsters, revealed a survey conducted in 2017 by Quest Diagnostics. Doctors aren’t doing so well discussing sexual health with young patients either.