Under the contract, Quest Diagnostics is the exclusive national laboratory
provider to participate as a preferred provider of laboratory services for
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield's indemnity and Preferred Provider Organization
health plans. In addition Quest Diagnostics will manage a network of laboratory
providers for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield's HMO plans through the QuestNet
network management service. Additional terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the largest health insurer in New York,
providing health insurance coverage for 4.3 million indemnity and managed care
subscribers. For over 65 years, Empire has played a major role in helping to
meet the health care needs of New Yorkers residing in the 28 counties of eastern
New York, as well as multi-state employer groups.
"We are pleased that physicians and members of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
health plans will now have access to the full resources of all Quest Diagnostics
facilities through one contract," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., President and
Chief Operating Officer of Quest Diagnostics.
Quest Diagnostics is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services with annual revenues of $3.4 billion in 2000. The
company's diagnostic testing yields information that enables health care
professionals and consumers to make better decisions to improve health. Quest
Diagnostics offers patients and physicians the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its national network of approximately 30 full-service
laboratories, 150 rapid response laboratories and more than 1,300 patient
service centers, where specimens are collected. Quest Diagnostics is the leading
provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based testing, and is the leader in
routine medical testing, drugs of abuse testing, and non-hospital-based anatomic
pathology testing. Through partnerships with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
information technology companies, Quest Diagnostics provides support to help
speed the development of health care insights and new therapeutics. Additional
company information can be found on the Internet 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 the outcome to be materially
different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2000 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X36169434
CONTACT: Investors - Cathy Doherty, +1-201-393-5030, or Media - Gary
Samuels, +1-201-393-5700, both for Quest Diagnostics