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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.

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.