United Healthcare is Dropping Quest in 2007, in Favor of LabCorp.
Quest Diagnostics announced this month (Oct. 2006) that they will no longer be a preferred laboratory providing services for members covered through United HealthCare. You can read the AP story here or here.
One gathers from the news stories that Quest withdrew from the bidding against Lab Corp. when the reimbursements on the table meant cutting meat instead of fat - if you know what I mean. We can readily see how Lab Corp. could undercut Quest just by the results we've seen with the 1,25-D metabolite testing. Quest has higher costs from transporting the blood frozen, but as a result of that action, their tests are more reliable. It boils down to "you get what you pay for."
As of Jan. 1, 2007, Laboratory Corp. will generally be the exclusive provider of laboratory testing for United HealthCare. Click here to see what United Healthcare has to say about the change.
As a result of this change, members who have UHC coverage may decide to have their 1,25-D testing done in 2006 rather than early 2007 to avoid higher out-of-pocket expenses. Some members will be able to request that their blood tests be sent to Quest in 2007, understanding that they may be responsible for a higher co-payment as a result. Check your UHC website or ask your employer's benefits department for specifics about this pending change.
If you participate in a pre-tax medical spending plan and your medical services are through UHC, you may want to plan for higher out-of-pocket expenses if you plan to ask that your blood be sent to Quest Diagnostics for testing
Belinda
Insurance coverage of blood tests Last edited on Wed Nov 1st, 2006 00:44 by Belinda
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