TETERBORO, N.J., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
laboratory testing, information and services, today announced that it has
entered into an agreement with Express Scripts (Nasdaq: ESRX), 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(R) 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(R), 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(R) 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(R) (electronic patient record solution) and eMaxx(R) (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. (Nasdaq: ESRX) 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
-0- 06/09/2004
/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 /
(DGX ESRX)