Empire BlueCross BlueShield, New York’s largest insurer by medical membership, “significantly expanded” its HMO and PPO/EPO and Indemnity Reference Laboratory networks, according to the company.

Mark Wagar

The expansion ensures more  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, according to a company statement.

Empire expanded its HMO Reference Laboratory Network to include LabCorp, and two LabCorp subsidiaries — DIANON Systems and Centrex Clinical Labs (both LabCorp subsidiaries) – for all of its markets.

For the areas of Brooklyn and Queens, Shiel Medical       Laboratory also was added.

Additionally, the insurer expanded its expanding its PPO/EPO and Indemnity Reference Laboratory Network to include LabCorp, DIANON Systems, Centrex Clinical Labs, BioReference Laboratories, 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 option for 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, in a statement.

The company provides health insurance to about 6 million people in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State.