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As previously communicated, IBC has selected
Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings
(LabCorp) as our exclusive national outpatient
laboratory provider effective July 1, 2014. LabCorp
includes the following members of its Specialty Testing
Group: Dianon Pathology, Integrated Oncology,
Integrated Genetics, MedTox Laboratories, Monogram
BioSciences, Litholink, Endocrine Sciences, and
Colorado Coagulation. In addition to LabCorp, the
IBC network will include other currently contracted
laboratories that will remain in our network.
This change covers all Blue-branded product lines and
members (i.e., Personal Choice®, Keystone Health
Plan East, and Independence Administrators), including
individual, group commercial, and Medicare Advantage
members, for services rendered in the Philadelphia
five-county region and contiguous counties (i.e., the
counties that surround the IBC service area).
IBC?s contract with Quest Diagnostics® laboratories
will end for Blue-branded product lines effective
July 1, 2014.
Why we are making this change
Health care is undergoing rapid, remarkable change,
spurred by implementation of the health care reform
law, an increasing focus on the individual consumer,
and continuing cost pressures. In late 2013, IBC
initiated a project to evaluate an exclusive national
outpatient laboratory network concept, which has been
effective in helping other insurers contain medical costs
without affecting quality. Our partnership with LabCorp,
a leading national laboratory, will allow for enhanced
clinical initiatives to improve patient care.
Patient access and new LabCorp
patient service centers (PSC)
IBC?s laboratory network will provide access that
is generally equivalent to or better than the access
members have with IBC?s current laboratory network
(including Quest Diagnostics). Prior to July 1, 2014,
LabCorp will significantly expand the number of PSCs
in the IBC service area to provide convenient member
access. With the addition of newly built PSCs, LabCorp
will have approximately 169 access points, including
an estimated 50 new sites, in the IBC service area by
July 1, 2014. LabCorp will also provide lab specimen
courier pick-up services for all applicable participating
physician offices effective July 1, 2014.
In the very near future, we will communicate more
information about the locations of LabCorp?s new
PSCs. Physicians can find current LabCorp PSCs and
other participating laboratories by using the Find a
Doctor tool.
Resources
Please visit the LabCorp-dedicated section of our
Provider News Center. This
section contains provider-specific frequently asked
questions (FAQ), a list of other currently contracted
laboratories that will remain in our network in addition
to LabCorp, and other resources for you and your
office staff.
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