payer-provider agreements

You know how when you go on a first date, you're careful not to divulge too much nitty-gritty information about yourself? Instead, most experienced daters prefer to reveal tidbits of their personal lives slowly, so as not to scare their dates off too early with tales of rough childhoods and embarrassing habits. They key to successful dates and early relationships often is a delicate give-and-take balance of sharing some information, but not too much. That's kind of how payers and providers are acting toward each other as they navigate the accountable care waters. Payers don't always want to spill all their beans, disclosing too much information too quickly, closely guarding their long-held secrets. And providers don't want to move forward with their dates if they remain tight-lipped about important information.

Highmark is defending itself against allegations that it forced West Penn Allegheny Health System into declaring bankruptcy. The two organizations are in court to determine whether Highmark can block...

Highmark is affiliating with Erie, Pa.-based Saint Vincent Health System, showing that the insurer's recent tangles with West Penn Allegheny Health System aren't thwarting its plans to build a dominant health delivery network to compete against UPMC.

As accountable care organizations (ACO) continue to grow in popularity, payers are establishing new relationships with providers to help reduce healthcare costs and enhance quality care. But how can...