Lab Services Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I have my lab work drawn in State College and have them sent to Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp?

Visit the Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp websites to find a location near you. There are three Quest Diagnostics locations and one LabCorp location in State College. Please note that Penn State Health is not able to utilize Quest Diagnostics for STAT lab draws.

Quest Diagnostics

LabCorp

Please note: If your ordering physician is NOT a Penn State Health doctor, you will need to take a paper copy of your lab orders to the lab. 

How can I find out which labs are covered under plan?

Every health insurance plan must provide specific preventive care services at no cost to covered employees and families, which include specific lab tests.

How can I find out how much a lab test will cost by having my labs processed by  Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp?

Aetna can price lab claims for members but it is necessary to have the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, diagnosis code and billing provider NPI (National Provider Identifier). In most cases the reps will try to assist members by using the online care cost estimator.

I had lab work completed and was surprised I received a bill?  

To understand why you have been charged for a lab test or procedure, please read the explanation of benefits (EOB) that you receive from the insurance carrier describing this service and what portion was paid by insurance. This should tell you why you received a bill; for example, you have not met the deductible, the test was a non-covered service, etc. If you have specific questions about the charges, please call Aetna at 855-878-4197

Why should I use Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp? How do I benefit?

Beginning January 1, 2019, you will pay the least amount of coinsurance (10%) for lab services if you use Quest Diagnostic or LabCorp. Since lab services are subject to deductible and coinsurance, by using a high quality and low cost provider, your out of pocket costs will be reduced, saving you money without sacrificing quality. If you use another in-network lab, you will pay 30% coinsurance (after deductible). If you use an out-of-network lab, you will pay 50% coinsurance (after deductible). 

How does Penn State benefit from the savings?

Because Penn State is self-insured, any charges not paid for by employee deductibles and coinsurance are paid by Penn State.  By using a high-quality low-cost lab, Penn State pays less in provider charges.

Do I have to use Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp?

You can continue to have your routine lab tests completed at your physician’s office, or hospital-based lab, but beginning January 1, 2019, you will pay higher coinsurance if you do not use a Quest or LabCorp lab.  If you use another in-network lab, you will pay 30% coinsurance (after deductible). If you use an out-of-network lab, you will pay 50% coinsurance (after deductible). 

How can I get my blood drawn by Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp?

Both have many draw sites in Pennsylvania. You can find the closest draw location to you at http://www.labcardselect.com or http://www/labcorp.com.

Penn State employees have convenient access to draw sites within minutes of their work or home address. In some cases, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp will contract with local hospitals that will draw on behalf of them and these will also be listed on their website.

How will my medical provider know to send my lab work to Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp?

When you check in to your practice, let them know that your preference is that your lab work be sent to Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp. If they do not draw blood in their office or send to either, ask for the paper requisition (lab orders) and take it to the Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp site or hospital designated as a Quest Diagnostics’or LabCorp collection site. When you arrive at the draw site, let them know you prefer your lab work to be tested at Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp. 

What is the turnaround time for routine testing?

The majority of testing is completed the next business day with results reported to the medical provider within 24 hours after the test.has been completed. Results are available to your medical provider via fax or Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

Can I look up my own results?

Yes, it’s easy! You can access your results at MyQuest™ patient portal or LabCorp patient portal. Individuals will need to create a personal secure account which takes less than five minutes at https://myquest.questdiagnostics.com/web/home or https://www.labcorp.com/results.

Whom do I contact if I have questions once I receive a bill or for any other questions, including how to order new cards?

Patients can call Quest Lab Card Client Services at 1-800-646-7788 with any questions they may have Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm EST.  Frequently asked questions can also be found at http://www.labcardselect.com/faqs.html.

LabCorp questions should be directed to https://www.labcorp.com/help/contact-info-for-patient/patient-inquiry. Frequently asked questions can also be found at https://www.labcorp.com/frequently-asked-questions/patient. 

I was told my doctor doesn’t participate with Quest Diagnostics and/or LabCorp, what can I do?

If your provider does not participate with Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp, you may take your lab order to the nearest Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp facility to have your labs drawn. You always have the option to have your labs completed at your physician’s office, but you may pay more in deductible and/or coinsurance vs. using Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.

My doctor is telling me my results are not in my Electronic Medical Record (EMR).  Where are they?

While most physician practices’ EMR are connected to the Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp platform, some are not.  In the cases where they are not, the results are faxed to the provider. Your physician practice will have access to your results, regardless of how they are provided to them.

My schedule is hectic, how can I get my blood drawn quickly?

Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp have hours that can accommodate different schedules and generally, wait times are short, but if you can only go at a specific time, many Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp sites have the option of appointment scheduling www.labcardselect.com (find a collection site) or https://www.labcorp.com/labs-and-appointments. In cases where a hospital is drawing on behalf of Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp, appointments are generally not available.