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Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX): Q1 Non-GAAP EPS of $1.40 beats by $0.02; GAAP EPS of $1.20. Revenue of $1.89B (+0.5% Y/Y) beats by $20M.

Tuesday morning's results are the first Quest has shared since getting back into the UnitedHealth network at the start of the year. The agreement with UnitedHealth has given Quest access to more patient lives than at any time in the past decade. Accordingly, organic requisition volume growth was up 2.4%, compared to 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2018, and would have been around 3% if headwinds including a slightly shorter quarter were excluded.

Accurate estimates of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) prevalence are lacking, particularly the subset of patients with advanced fibrosis. We aim to evaluate prevalence and predictors of advanced fibrosis among patients with probable NASH using national clinical laboratory data. Clinical laboratory data from October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018 were collected using Quest Diagnostics database, which tests ∼30% of U.S. adults annually. Adults with negative hepatitis B surface antigen, negative hepatitis C antibody, and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (>25 U/L women, >35 U/L men) were evaluated for prevalence of ≥F 3 fibrosis using fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4)>2.67.

Women's healthcare is historically no fun. I mean, the process of a pap smear speaks for itself. Thankfully, it seems many women feel this way, and some particularly driven women decided to do something about it.[CR-LF][CR-LF]A handful of companies took the most inconvenient and awkward aspects of women's health — like a trip to the gynecologist just for a prescription refill, or checking out at CVS with condoms — and made them much easier.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Modern Fertility emphasizes the convenience and price tag of its products -- no commute or clinic visit, and no sticker shock. You can take your test at home, or opt to take it at a Quest Diagnostics lab if there's one near you.

In the United States, more than 178 million Americans receive insurance coverage through an employer; of these, approximately 60% have insurance from a self-insured employer. Healthcare costs, both medical and pharmacy, for employers and employees continue to increase at a 6% predicted rate in 2019, on top of the 5 to 6 percent annual increases observed since 2014. The increase in healthcare spending has been directly attributed to increased prices for healthcare services, while utilization has remained somewhat consistent. Today we’re speaking with Dr Steven Goldberg, the vice president of medical affairs, population health, and chief health officer at Quest Diagnostics. He is also a co-author of a recent peer-reviewed case study that analyzed a benefits and wellness program designed by a self-insured employer.