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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%.