In Massachusetts, Blues Ink Pact with Partners HealthCare to Implement Alternative Quality Contract with Global Payment
Early evidence is that the AQC arrangement encourages providers to more carefully utilize ancillary services, including clinical laboratory and pathology testing
Much attention is being given to the new healthcare payment models being introduced by the Medicare program during 2012. However, quietly—and with much less publicity—private health plans are deploying innovative, value-based payment models.
These developments need to be watched by clinical laboratory managers and pathologists, since it is predicted that the cost of medical laboratory testing will be bundled into most of the value-based reimbursement arrangements soon to enter the healthcare marketplace.
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