"Within the half year, a large employer and three hospital systems in the Seattle area are launching an unusual accountable care experiment that removes the insurance company middleman. The arrangement is also notable because it will use practically every tactic under way in managed care: health savings accounts, value-based benefits, narrow networks and medical homes. The experiment involving large aerospace manufacturer Boeing Corp. will be closely watched not only for the ACO portion, but also for its everything-but-the-kitchen sink approach to making employees healthier while slowing down the costs of doing so."  MORE >>