State, Insurers Base Payments on Value Amid Rising Healthcare Costs

Ohio is planning to implement a public- and private-sector partnership to cut healthcare costs in the Medicaid program and the private insurance market, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The state aims to have 90 percent of its population covered by insurance emphasizing value over volume within five years.

With a $3 million federal grant authorized by the Affordable Care Act, Ohio officials are working with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio, CareSource, Medical Mutual of Ohio and United Healthcare to launch the new program next year.

The program will initially focus on using primary care doctors to coordinate healthcare and designing new ways to pay for five high-cost "episodes," including joint replacement and certain treatments of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Source: Fierce Health Payer