Quest DiagnosisDiagnostic information services provider LifeLabs announced that it has acquired LifeLabs, a provider of clinical laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, from employee pension fund company OMERS in a transaction valued at approximately CAD1.35 billion (USD1 billion).
LifeLabs will continue to operate under its own brand, with the same management team at its Toronto headquarters.
Secaucus, New Jersey-based Quest says it will provide LifeLabs with expertise, new ideas and the means to enhance its services.
The two companies will also work together to improve online appointment scheduling and speed up patient service center processes.
Quest will also help LifeLabs strengthen data security while ensuring Canadian patient health data remains in Canada.
“Partnering with Quest Diagnostics marks a pivotal moment for LifeLabs,” LifeLabs president and CEO Charles Brown said in a statement. “Quest’s extensive diagnostic capabilities and leading-edge strategy will help the LifeLabs team improve access to services and ultimately improve health care for Canadians.”
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Waltz Healtha digital search engine for prescription drug prices and rebates, has announced a partnership with specialty pharmacy Reliance Rx to lower specialty prices for prescription drugs.
Reliance Rx will become part of Waltz Health’s Waltz Connect program as an in-network option for all specialty medications.
As a partner in Waltz Connect’s marketplace, participants in health insurance plans and self-pay plans who need specialty medications will be able to access Reliance Rx’s services at a lower cost.
“The RelianceRx team is focused on delivering the best specialty pharmacy experience for patients and providers,” Timothy Carroll, vice president of business development and analytics at RelianceRx, said in a statement.
“Our new approach layers modern technology to bring transparency, efficiency and flexibility to specialty health benefits management. For too long, the traditional specialty drug supply chain’s opaque and outdated structure has led to inefficiencies and misaligned incentives that inflate health care costs,” Mark Thieler, co-founder and CEO of Waltz Health, said in a statement.
“Bringing market forces to healthcare leads to price competition and differentiated experiences, and this is no different for specialty medicines. That’s why we offer a comprehensive solution that can be customized to meet each payer’s unique needs, including an entire network of specialty pharmacy partners committed to reducing delivery costs and improving healthcare outcomes.”
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Marshall Health Network, a West Virginia-based academic health system, Primefocus Health, a provider healthcare delivery platform, delivers customized healthcare service solutions to address community healthcare issues such as rural access to care, obesity, healthy aging and substance abuse.
Prime Focus Health is The system, launched earlier this year by LG Electronics, will help Marshall Health serve the needs of 1.4 million residents across 40 counties in West Virginia, southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky.
The two companies will work together using technology and remote monitoring services to monitor the progress of patients with various medical conditions and provide medical treatment in patients’ homes.
The aim is to help healthcare providers better manage outcomes and provide support, counselling, communication and intervention through an app-based patient portal.
The collaboration will commence in September, with development plans to be implemented throughout next year, with rollout to patients expected in 2025.
“Working with Marshall Health Network puts us at the forefront of addressing major healthcare issues in rural West Virginia and Appalachia, building solutions that best meet people’s needs and providing access to care that helps them live healthier, better lives,” Darren Sabo, CEO of Prime Focus Health, said in a statement.
