Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and health system Trinity Health-Michigan will form an accountable care organization before 2016 under a new contract in which the insurer will improve information systems at Trinity's 12 hospitals and health facilities, Crain's Detroit Business reported. Blue Cross is discussing arrangements with other hospitals and physicians to discourage high-volume services and promote effectiveness, according to Susan Barkell, Blue Cross' senior vice president for healthcare value.
"We expect several more hospital systems to sign similar value-based contracts with us by end of calendar 2012, when we expect to have 50 percent of our overall hospital dollars subject to these arrangements," Barkell said. Article