Good News from LabCorp

Question

Yesterday I went in for my 3-month post tx labwork.( No, I don't have the results yet.)   There was a sign on the counter that they have instituted a new program so that patients can get their results online.  These results will be posted to your account after they are sent to the ordering doctor.  The web address for opening a patient account is:  http://patient.labcorp.com.  You have to set up an account and a password -- just follow the directions once you get there.  You can set it up to get emails when lab results are posted and they say it takes 2-7 days.

I set up an account as soon as I left LabCorp and the program started loading my lab results, all the way back to March (which was a substantial number of labs, given that I had them once a week while treating).  I was disappointed that they did not show my labs from September but I figure it will be entered in due time. They do not show anything for yesterday's labs either, but I don't know if they will give partial results.  The normal stuff should have been sent to my doctor by now, but the QuantaSure will take about 10 days.

At any rate when I think about how hard it was to get labs at first I think this in a marvelous thing that LabCorp has done.

copyman · Answer

Not allowed here in NJ. You can request the results be sent to you but it can take a long time. I think they want to allow your doctor time to review them.
I will ask about the doctor writing cc to patient on lab slip.

his3707 · Answer

Kathy, Looking forward to seeing UND on these lab results!!!!

Bali05 · Answer

So it really is still the "same old same old " for us New Yorkers which is you need your Dr. to ok the release of labs before you get them. Some Drs do not like to do this. 
I am friendly with my GP so I was lucky to get all my labs during tx 
directly faxed from the lab to me as soon as they were ready including partials ect....


b

Idyllic · Answer

Wow Thanks Bean!

I have been waiting for LabCorp to join the current century forever! 

I set up an account the moment I finished reading your post!! My labs for the last two weeks are there (three sets of labs)!!

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/thanks.gif

maybe368 · Answer

That is also true here in AZ, but it is a one time letter, good info...Mark

nygirl7 · Answer

Yes it sure sounds like you can do it Bali!  Great detective work Beanie you rock :)

frijole · Answer

bali - this is the response I got from LabCorp.  It sounds like you can set up the account but you will still have to have the doctor write "copy to patient on each order.

Message: 

__________________

"I have shared the information as to how to set up an account with LabCorp so as to be able to view results online.  A friend in New York state said that he contacted the LabCorp he uses and was told the service was unavailable in NY.  Is that correct?  Is the service available nationwide?  I think this is a valuable service and appreciate your making it available.  Please tell me in what states this is available and what states it is not


Response 

__________________

Thank you for your inquiry. Anyone can sign up for an on line account with us. There are some differences in state regulations for release of results directly to patients. For New York and some other states, written authorization from the physician is required before we can release results directly to the patient. We instruct patients in these states to ask their physician to indicate "copy to patient" on the lab order so that they can receive their results on line.

frijole · Answer

ha ha ha FL -- then you will know ALL my secrets!

FlGuy · Answer

I guess that means in three months, when you have your Really Big Labs,  all you need to do is post your user id and password

HappyByChoice · Answer

Quest Diagnostics also has an app that will allow you to get your results after they have been sent to your doctor.  You can download it at MyGazelleApp.com.  You have the option to view/fax/email the report.  And if you click on a specific test within the report, it will give you a graph to show you current and past results.

My insurance changed in September and I can no longer use Quest, so thank you very much for sharing about the LabCorp program!!

coeric · Answer

thanks for the tip. i have most of my labs done at labcorp.
eric

maybe368 · Answer

There were already some states that prohibited the release of lab results, but, as we know, federal law trumps state law and these would be invalidated...Mark

frijole · Answer

maybe368 & bali05 -- I didn't realize it was part of the new medical provisions, but it is long overdue. Why, I wonder, would NY law overrides this. I have asked the question on the LabCorp service online and they are supposed to answer in 3 business days.

Bali05 · Answer

Since this is music in my ears...I called Labcorp just now and no can do.
In fact the online service frijole mentions is only available to certain states
and NOT NY Tristate.

b

maybe368 · Answer

Yes, it applies to the entire US. I had a problem in July, when the insurance company said I was a relapser and wanted to end at 24 weeks, but my doc said I was a non-responder and wanted to do 48. I tried to get old lab results and was able to get back to 2003. When I asked the lady at Sonora if she could send them directly to me, she said I can in a month, because a provision of Obama care makes it legal...Mark

Bali05 · Answer

"This is a direct result of Obama care. As of last August the labs are allowed to release results directly to patients."

Are you sure this applies to the NY Tristate aerea as well?
It would be a dream come true......
I made my GP write on top of the lab requisition "Patient may have copy"
and have him sign it. Still sometimes the customer service people at the
lab give me hard time on occasion because of the NY state law. prohibiting
the release of results directly to patient.

b

maybe368 · Answer

They only have to keep them for 7 years, although I was able to get some records from 2003 from Sonora recently...Mark

maybe368 · Answer

This is a direct result of Obama care. As of last August the labs are allowed to release results directly to patients. Sonora has an online form to fill out and they mail the results to you...Mark

frijole · Answer

balio -- According to their FAQS the results will be available for 9 months in PDF format.  Of course, you can save them to a file on your own computere easily that way.

NY - I wish all doctors were as willing as yours to allow patients access.  I would love to have access to everything -- ultrasounds, cat scans, all of that stuff.  It amazes me that I piad $1700 for a CatScan and I can get about 4 sentences from the doctor who reads the results. 

Mike - thanks...  I was UND at 9 weeks, so I am hopeful.

mikesimon · Answer

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

nygirl7 · Answer

My doctors office has all labs posted online immediately. In fact, that is where he reviews them himself. I LOVE this because I dont have to wait and beg for faxes....just log in and look.  I have an appt today and already know every single one he's going to point out...it's awesome!

Good luck Kathy on the labs although I am SURE you dont need any luck you got this thing done for good finally :)

Bali05 · Answer

Indeed this is good news. I wonder how long they store the results for you.
Anyway definately a step in the right direction.
Maybe some day we as patients will get results as soon as they are available just like the Drs. I told my Dr. that I need to see my lab results
--before-- we have an appoitment to be able to educate myself and come
up with the right questions. Drs. like to present lab results to their patients
but in the usual 15-30min. appointment that leaves me with more
questions than answers and I end up having to schedule yet another
appointment.....lol

Thanks for sharing.

b