Six of Wisconsin's foremost healthcare providers formed a statewide partnership in hopes of cutting costs, improving care and contracting with insurers, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The providers are UW Health in Madison; Gundersen Health System, which serves western Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northeast Iowa; Aspirus System, based in Wausau; Aurora Health Care, headquartered in Milwaukee; Bellin Health Care Systems, based in Green Bay; and ThedaCare in Appleton. Collectively, these providers' service areas cover about 90 percent of Wisconsin's population. "This is not a merger or a consolidation and not a changing of money or governance," Gunderson CEO Jeff Thompson said. "It will allow us to more rapidly learn from each other, share best practices and serve the needs of patients and families more efficiently." Article