Wasau Teams with Patient Choice Healthcare
Patient Choice Healthcare creates and manages health care networks. It manages the Choice Plus network, a defined contribution, consumer choice program. Under the Patient Choice program, providers group together into what the company calls “care systems,” which include primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals and other health care professionals and facilities. Those in the program then choose their providers based upon cost, quality and service information provided for them.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the largest employer trade association in the state, and the Massachusetts Health care Purchaser Group, a coalition of public and private purchasers of health care, are aiding Patient Choice in the development of its network for this program, the press release stated.
The new program will begin January 1, 2003. Wausau Benefits is the country’s sixth largest third party administrative services provider.