Welcome to the second issue of Purchasing High Performance, a publication designed for employers and coalitions seeking value in health care, and sponsored by the National Business Coalition on Health and The Commonwealth Fund.
When the inaugural issue of this newsletter came out a few short months ago, we pointed out that employers will play a leading role in defining the health care future regardless of what happens in Washington. Well, there's certainly a lot going on in Washington (see this issue's Perspectives on Policy), but our perspective has not changed. In this issue, we look at how a new payment system called Prometheus is helping promote coordination among physicians by paying them more for avoiding errors in their practices. Another case study looks at how one large employer cut the cost of disability claims in half simply by engaging area physicians. This issue’s feature articles offer useful tips on structuring copayments more effectively, and a much-needed explanation of the much-talked-about patient-centered medical home. Finally, in our Interview section, we talk to a vice president at Safeway to learn more about how that organization has kept health care costs constant since 2005.
As always, we hope that you will find this newsletter to be a useful resource as you work to make the most of your health care dollars and improve the health and productivity of your workforce.
