Massachusetts Blues Medical Spending Was 5% Lower In Plans With Tiered Provider Organization Networks

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts plans with tiered provider organization networks had 5% lower spending. In similar plans without tiered networks, spending was $43.36 higher per member per quarter, with total adjusted medical spending per member per quarter of $873.43, compared to $830.07 for the tiered network plans. The tiered networks steered consumers toward physicians and hospitals that had demonstrated higher quality care at lower costs.

These findings were reported in “Enrollment In A Health Plan With A Tiered Provider Network Decreased Medical Spending By 5 Percent” by Anna D. Sinaiko, Mary Beth Landrum, and Michael . . .