History
The first collaborative initiative began in 1997 when five hospitals joined with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and Blue Care Network to look at variation in angioplasty procedures and treatment. In 2005, the Physician Group Incentive Program began.
Value Partnerships officially launched in June 2006 as an umbrella program covering several collaborative initiatives among the Michigan Blues and a group of hospitals. Each initiative focused on a particular area of clinical quality improvement.
Today, the number of Value Partnership initiatives has grown considerably, with the power of change controlled by the providers.
Hospitals and physician groups throughout the state participate in many initiatives that are transforming Michigan's system of care. The initiatives include clinical quality studies in key specialty areas such as cardiology, cancer, bariatric surgery, blood clot prevention and general surgery. They also focus on processes and systems to strengthen primary care, such as chronic disease management, electronic prescribing and patient data tracking, and optimizing use of high-tech radiology.
