Blue Cross mulls joint ventures, staff model HMO. (Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, health maintenance organization)

Officials at Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin are exploring new joint ventures with area health care providers, including establishing some form of a staff model health maintenance organization.

The insurance company might announce something within a year, and the decision could involve clinic construction, said Thomas Hefty, chief executive officer of Blue Cross.

"My guess would be that a joint venture with some other providers would be our preferred way of doing it," Hefty said. "We have a good service reputation. We have a large database, which lets us manage costs. And we have capital, which is something we didn't have five years ago.

"But …