Empire BlueCross BlueShield Expands Lab Networks -- Creating Broader Choice, Robust Competition and Lower Costs for Consumers

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire BlueCross BlueShield, New York's largest insurer by medical membership, announced today that, effective August 1, 2010, it will significantly expand its HMO and PPO/EPO & Indemnity Reference Laboratory Networks.  This expansion ensures broader choices for members and physicians, creates an environment in which labs compete on service, quality and choice, and reduces the need for members to spend more of their health care dollars using out-of-network laboratories.

Specifically, Empire is:  

• Expanding its HMO Reference Laboratory Network to include Laboratory Corporation of America^® Holdings (LabCorp^®), DIANON Systems and Centrex Clinical Labs (both LabCorp subsidiaries) for all markets.  In addition, for the areas of Brooklyn and Queens, Shiel Medical Laboratory will also be added.

• Expanding its PPO/EPO and Indemnity Reference Laboratory Network to include Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp), DIANON Systems, Centrex Clinical Labs, BioReference Laboratories, Inc., Enzo Clinical Laboratories, and Sunrise Medical Laboratories.

In addition to patient service centers, these labs offer courier pick-up services for specimens collected in provider offices, offering another convenient option to Empire members.

"With the addition of these new laboratory partners, Empire now has an unsurpassed laboratory network," said Mark Wagar, president and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield.  "This broad network enables our 6 million members to choose to use the reference lab that best meets their needs based on quality, service and cost."

For a complete list of providers participating in Empire's reference laboratory networks, members can visit empireblue.com or contact the Provider Services Department at 800-552-6630.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield

Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State.  Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com.

SOURCE Empire BlueCross BlueShield

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