Employers joining coalitions to stem costs.(Workplace Health & Benefits)(Brief Article)

Michael Prince, Business Insurance, June 23, 2003

"Health care coalitions, often called business groups on health, have existed in most metropolitan areas for years and count employers--and sometimes health plans and hospitals--as their members. With coalitions, employers join forces and pool their buying power in an effort to obtain better prices from health plans.

For an employer, the advantage of joining a coalition is leverage. Simply put, buyers become bigger by combining forces. And size commands a better price. …