Alternative Quality Contracts

Modern Healthcare reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ”wants to expand its use of global budgets outside of managed care. But the plan’s success will depend on how many doctors are willing to accept the risk.

”Doctors across the country have criticized Medicare’s accountable care contracts that make physicians responsible for curbing health spending without allowing them to influence where and when patients get care. But the Massachusetts Blues in recent weeks began to approach the state’s medical groups with a similar proposal.

”The company plans to introduce global budgets in its preferred provider organization health plans. The new model comes seven years after the insurer first offered global budgets in its managed care plans under what it calls Alternative Quality Contracts. ”