Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s headquarters, in downtown Providence.

Three  Rhode Island healthcare organizations, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Lifespan, a large hospital system, and Coastal Medical, a physicians group, have created an Accountable Care Organization to serve  45,000 patients.

The agreement aims to  improve how primary, specialty and inpatient care are delivered in the tiny but densely populated state.

The Providence Business News reports: “The pact offers incentives that reward enhanced care management and more efficient delivery of care for the 45,000 Blue Cross members who receive their primary care from Coastal Medical providers. The effort is expected to result in better health outcomes, lower costs and better service to patients, according to the deal participants.”

The paper said: “Blue Cross, Coastal and Lifespan will remain fully independent under this agreement, but each will work with the others in a more aligned fashion than ever before.”