What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Quest Diagnostics Bill?
If you are struggling to pay your Quest Diagnostics bill, there are options to help. The largest clinical laboratory in the United States provides a six-month interest-free payment plan and financial assistance if you can prove hardship. However, you should first contact the company directly. Jerry Diffley, corporate director of patient advocacy and billing compliance, can help you determine if you qualify for financial assistance.
Medical fee class action lawsuits
A recent settlement of Medicaid fraud claims against Quest Diagnostics, Inc. has resulted in a $241 million settlement for the company. The company allegedly overcharged the state for diagnostic testing by over 400 percent. The settlement was reached under the California False Claims Act. The lawsuit was brought by Chris Riedel, the CEO of Hunter Laboratories, who was complaining about price gouging. The case was later joined by six other medical test providers who had similar claims.
The Quest case is the latest in a string of similar lawsuits. It accuses the company of overcharging Medicare and Medicaid by more than $1 billion. The lawsuit claims that Quest’s practice of “pull-through” billing violated the Medicare and Medicaid laws. In 1999, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a warning about this practice.
The alleged pricing practices have resulted in numerous lawsuits, including one against LabCorp and one against Quest Diagnostics. In addition to charging patients unfairly high fees, many consumers have been charged deductibles and coinsurance at the point of service. Quest and LabCorp routinely charged different rates for lab tests based on the insurance company they were affiliated with. They charge different prices for cash paying patients and those with insurance.
Cost of tests at Quest Diagnostics
Medicare covers some of the costs of medical laboratory tests at Quest Diagnostics, including some screening services. Medicare part A and part B will cover Quest’s tests if they are medically necessary, and once the deductible has been met, Quest will accept payments from these programs. With more than 2,000 locations in the U.S., Quest offers everything from blood tests to preventive screenings.
A Quest Diagnostics bill is separate from the physician’s bill. Depending on your insurance plan, your test may not have occurred at the actual facility, but instead was sent to a Quest laboratory. To determine whether Quest Diagnostics’s tests are covered by your insurance plan, check your policy and make sure your coverage covers the cost of the tests. You should check with your insurance company about coverage and negotiated rates.
If you do not have insurance, Quest may be able to provide you with a low-cost blood test. If you need to get your bloodwork done, Quest has more than 2,200 locations nationwide. You can even do the tests yourself at home without an appointment. Using Quest Direct is convenient, since you can get the results without visiting a physician’s office.
Cost of tests at Sonora Quest Laboratories
The leading diagnostic laboratory in Arizona is piloting carside testing at three locations. Patients can remain in their vehicle while a blood, saliva or urine sample is collected. This groundbreaking testing method was recently approved by Governor Doug Ducey in an effort to ensure that all Arizonans have access to this innovative testing. You can find out more about the new technology at sonoraquestlaboratories.com.
Arizonans can now get their COVID-19 test results faster thanks to a new partnership between Sonora Quest and Embry Health. The two companies plan to process more samples and increase the capacity of COVID-19 testing in the state. Last week, Sonora Quest processed almost 30,000 diagnostic PCR tests. As demand for COVID-19 testing continues to rise, the lab is struggling to meet the demand, but it is working hard to meet the need. In addition to the increased demand for COVID-19 testing, Sonora Quest is reporting high positivity rates. Embry Health recently reported that staff absences are resulting in unplanned testing site closures.
The cost of tests at Sonora Quest Laboratory varies. While most tests are covered by insurance, some are not. The company offers direct access testing. For those without insurance, the price of tests at Sonora Quest Laboratories can be as low as $125. If you’re unsure about what to expect, you can ask a doctor for advice. The office is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
