Summary: Quest Diagnostics announced a multi-year collaboration with Sentara Health Plans to become the exclusive provider of clinical and anatomic pathology services for members in Florida and Virginia.

Takeaways:

  1. Quest Diagnostics will be the exclusive independent laboratory provider for Sentara Health Plans, covering both commercial and government program members in Florida and Virginia.
  2. The collaboration aims to expand Quest’s patient service center network to improve patient access and promote redirection of lab services from higher-cost, out-of-network providers.
  3. Quest and Sentara share the goal of reducing healthcare costs while enhancing access to innovative, high-quality lab services for members in these regions.

Quest Diagnostics announced a multi-year strategic collaboration with Sentara Health Plans, the health plan division of Sentara Health, an integrated, not-for-profit health care delivery system, to expand access to high-quality, comprehensive lab testing for members of Sentara Health Plans.

Scope of Sentara Health Plans

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Quest will be the exclusive independent national laboratory provider of clinical laboratory and anatomic pathology services for members of Sentara Health Plans, including commercial and its government programs. The agreement will apply to Sentara Health Plans members in Florida and Virginia, including those in Sentara’s Florida-serving AvMed business. 

Supporting Patient Access

Sentara Health Plans and Quest will also collaborate on expanding Quest’s patient service center network to support patient access in some geographies. In addition, the parties will consider avenues for educating Sentara Health Plans members and providers on the value of redirecting testing to Quest from higher-cost, out-of-network providers.

“Sentara Health Plans’ strategic relationship with Quest promises to provide our Florida and Virginia members with innovative and comprehensive laboratory services,” says Colin S. Drozdowski, executive vice president of Sentara and president of Sentara Health Plans. “Sentara Health Plans and Quest share a common goal to deliver quality and affordable care to our plan members.”

Further reading: Quest Diagnostics Completes Acquisition of LifeLabs

“Health plans like Sentara value Quest as a strategic collaborator that can help them reduce healthcare costs while simultaneously enhancing access, innovation, and quality,” says Leah D. Timmerman, senior VP, Health Plans, Quest Diagnostics. “We look forward to helping Sentara Health Plans improve access and affordability for its members as we extend into parts of the southeastern U.S., particularly Virginia, where our presence has been limited.”