Quest Diagnostics and Elevance Health are broadening their partnership into four more states with the goal of making it easier for patients to access in-network laboratory services.
Beginning Jan. 1, Quest's service will be available in-network in four additional states: Colorado, Georgia, Nevada and Virginia. This includes routine lab testing, advanced diagnostics and Quest's network of pathologists, according to an announcement.
Members who need lab services are able to schedule appointments online at one of Quest's patient service centers as well as access test results and updates through the free myQuest mobile app.
Leah Timmerman, senior vice president of health plans for Quest Diagnostics, told Fierce Healthcare that the company has had a long-standing relationship with Elevance and has seen notable success in working with its affiliated Anthem health plans.
As such, expanding that work together was a natural step, she said.
"Certainly, it makes sense to build on that success and expand the relationship," Timmerman said.
A major challenge for insurers across the country is a rise in utilization stemming from care deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Quest has established a number of different programs that can assist insurers in managing these unexpected expenses.
For one, it has access to a wealth of data, including data points that can give plans a look at the medical histories for newly enrolled members. Timmerman said the Quest team has also been able to use its data to establish predictive models around costly chronic needs like kidney disease.
It can also deploy data that allow plans to track quality and outcomes, she said.
Monica Schmude, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, said in a press release that the expanded partnership "allows us to continue expanding our care options."
“We are pleased to work with Quest Diagnostics and provide expanded services and tools that meet our members’ needs," she said in the announcement.