As of July 1, 2014, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp) is the exclusive national outpatient laboratory provider for Independence Blue Cross (Independence). Also effective July 1, 2014, Quest Diagnostics® is an out-of-network provider.

This change applies to 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 five-county Independence service area).

Why We Made this Decision

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, Independence 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.