Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Payment System Slows Spending Growth

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Massachusetts's Alternative Quality Contract (AQC) global payment system has slowed spending growth during its first year of implementation, with spending growth of 6.44% per enrollee per quarter for those in the AQC system and growth of 8.08% for those who were not enrolled in the AQC System. Additionally, the AQC system was credited with improving the quality of adult chronic care and pediatric care. Much like the proposed Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, under the AQC system, provider groups assume accountability for spending and taken on financial risk for their patients; these . . .