Quest Diagnostics Incorporated , the nation's leading provider of diagnostic laboratory testing, information and services, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Express Scripts , one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, to provide physicians with online access to Express Scripts' pharmacy benefit management services. The electronic prescribing, or ePrescribing services, will be available through Quest Diagnostics' eMaxx® electronic health record, developed by MedPlus, the healthcare information technology subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Express Scripts will make its pharmacy benefit information available to physicians through the ePrescribing feature on eMaxx. Physicians using eMaxx will be able to view Express Scripts patients' formulary information and medication histories across multiple providers for the more than 50 million members that it serves. In addition, doctors will be able to electronically prescribe medication at the point of care using eMaxx in a manner that is consistent with the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy and security requirements.
With eMaxx, physicians can order diagnostic tests and review laboratory results online, prescribe medication electronically, and upload documents received electronically or in hard copy. eMaxx aggregates clinical data from multiple sources, empowering physicians with a comprehensive view of the patient over a period of time, which can help to improve diagnoses and decision making.
"We are committed to improving the overall safety of the prescribing process for physicians and patients through eMaxx's enhanced ePrescribing capabilities and by establishing relationships with pharmacy benefit management companies like Express Scripts," said Richard A. Mahoney, Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "We are pleased to offer solutions that enhance medication management for the 50 million patients served by Express Scripts."
eMaxx will connect to Express Scripts' data through RxHub®, an electronic information exchange that enables physicians who use electronic prescribing technology to link to pharmacy benefit managers, health plans and pharmacies. RxHub helps to increase patient safety and convenience, safeguard patients' privacy, and reduce overall system cost by serving as a conduit for the secure exchange of prescription plan information and by routing prescriptions to the patients' choice of pharmacy. RxHub is a joint venture formed by Medco Health, AdvancePCS, and Express Scripts, the three leading pharmacy benefit managers in the United States.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable healthcare professionals to make decisions that improve health. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its national network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based medical testing, and provides advanced information technology solutions to improve patient care. Additional company information is available at: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 2003 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
About MedPlus
MedPlus® is a leading developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and data management solutions for healthcare organizations and clinicians. These solutions efficiently and securely collect, store, manage and retrieve clinical information within an organization, enterprise or community via virtual private networks and/or the Internet. MedPlus solutions, including ChartMaxx® (electronic patient record solution) and eMaxx® (physician- focused clinical integration portal solution) have been implemented in more than 300 healthcare facilities throughout North America. MedPlus is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.medplus.com/.
About Express Scripts
Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies in North America, providing PBM services to over 50 million members through facilities in 13 states and Canada. Express Scripts serves thousands of client groups, including managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, employers and union-sponsored benefit plans.
Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services, including network pharmacy claims processing, mail pharmacy services, benefit design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, disease management, medical and drug data analysis services, and medical information management services. The Company also provides distribution services for specialty pharmaceuticals through its Specialty Distribution subsidiary. Express Scripts is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found at http://www.express-scripts.com/, which includes expanded investor information and resources.
SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Investors, Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, or Media, Jennifer
Somers, +1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics
Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/
http://www.express-scripts.com/
http://www.medplus.com/