Group Of Madison Businesses Steers Workers Toward Particular Doctors, Hospitals

A group of Madison-based companies who self-fund employee health care are trying to steer workers to certain doctors and hospitals with the goal of lowering costs and improving quality.

Procedures like cardiac bypass and joint replacements cannot only be risky but expensive. A group of employers, The Alliance, is urging workers to consider getting care with a handful of high-performing hospitals and doctors who have low complication rates — just one of the criteria used in what’s called the QualityPath program.

“In most cases, consumers will have no out-of-pocket costs if they choose a QualityPath physician and hospital,” said Cheryl DeMars, president and CEO of The Alliance.

Under the program, doctors and hospitals will get a set fee and offer a warranty. It protects the patient from costs associated with complications occurring within 90 days.