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Reminder: Change to our outpatient laboratory network now in effect

August 28, 2014

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As previously communicated, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp) is now IBC?s exclusive nationally based provider of outpatient laboratory services. This change went into effect on July 1, 2014. 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 IBC five-county service area).

As a reminder, your Professional Provider Agreement with IBC requires you to direct members and/or their lab specimens to a participating outpatient laboratory provider, except in an emergency, as otherwise described in the applicable Benefit Program Requirements, or as otherwise required by law.

Establish your electronic interfaces with LabCorp

LabCorp offers a variety of test ordering and result delivery solutions that provide the flexibility to meet your needs, including several electronic options, like LabCorp Beacon®. For more information, visit the LabCorp website.

If you haven?t already, we strongly suggest that you contact LabCorp at 1-888-295-5915 as soon as possible to establish your preferred electronic interfaces.

Re-issue of ID cards for affected members

As a result of this change in our outpatient laboratory network, many primary care physicians (PCP) who were previously capitated to Quest Diagnostics were assigned a new capitated laboratory provider. As a result, HMO and POS members whose PCP?s capitated laboratory changed were issued a new member ID card. ID cards for HMO and POS members indicate the member?s capitated laboratory provider through the Lab Indicator.

As they do today, physicians should check the member?s ID card and use the Eligibility and Benefits Inquiry transaction on the NaviNet® web portal to verify the capitated laboratory provider for HMO and POS members. Using NaviNet ensures that practices have the most accurate information.

For more information

We encourage you to review the information posted on the LabCorp section of our Provider News Center. This section contains valuable resources specific to our provider network, including:

  • frequently asked questions;
  • a list of LabCorp?s new patient service centers in the IBC five-county service area;
  • a list of other contracted laboratories in our network in addition to LabCorp;
  • an archive of communications related to this change.
If you have any questions about this change, please email us.

New resource available

IBC has created a flyer to help members understand the following:

  • the recent change to IBC's outpatient laboratory provider network;
  • cost differences between various lab types;
  • how to find an in-network lab.

If you have patients who may benefit from this information, you may request copies of the flyer to include in their charts.

To order a supply of flyers, please submit an online request or call the Provider Supply Line at 1-800-858-4728.

NaviNet® is a registered trademark of NaviNet, Inc., an independent company.

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This content was prepared for the Provider News Center and may not be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of Independence Blue Cross. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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