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Healtheast had more to gain than lose when it first took the plunge into direct contracting. The contracts, which cover 60,000 patients, have posed little financial risk for the Twin Cities network because employers pay Healtheast discounted fee-for-service rates. But the rules are changing, thanks to the demands of a clout-rich coalition of 24 local health care buyers.
When the Buyers Health Care Action Group put out a call for providers and plans to submit proposals, Healtheast jumped at the chance to get on its menu of health care options. But meeting the coalition's strict specifications means that Healtheast must be willing to sign direct contracts in which it will assume...