CalPERS Forms Coalition of Health Care Purchasers To Address Costs
CalPERS officials are joining with other major health care purchasers to form a coalition that organizers hope will bolster their power to negotiate with hospitals and health insurers, the Sacramento Bee reports.
To date, 20 labor unions and public and private employers have joined CalPERS' "Partnership for Change" coalition. Supporters include Intel, Wells Fargo, Blue Shield of California, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Business Group on Health, a group of health care purchasers that represents some large employers in California.
According to the Bee, CalPERS officials are focusing on negotiating lower fees for hospital services as a way to limit rising health care costs.
In addition, CalPERS is working with the California HealthCare Foundation, Health Net, Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross of California and PacifiCare to create a universal report card that would evaluate costs, efficiency and quality of care at every hospital in the state (Chan, Sacramento Bee, 9/26).