The Buyers Health Care Action Group: creating a competitive care system model

The Buyers Health Care Action Group, BHCAG, representing 26 large self-funded employers, has developed a new approach to the health care marketplace. On January 1, 1997 these companies implemented their plan to promote consumer driven competition at the care system rather than the plan level around clinical quality, service quality and cost. This new approach features increased provider autonomy and accountability, while empowering consumers with information to choose care systems based on their own values. Results to date include availability of 90-95% of community primary care physicians (with almost twice the delivery sites as previous offerings), extensive consumer information about providers and the care systems in which they participate, and a 1997 cost reduction of 9% against expected claims.