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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 0 14 • I NSIGH T | 37 I N S I G H T O N H E A L T H I N S U R A N C E B y S e a n P. J o h n s o n G reg Devine has high hopes for his newest health care calling. "We want to lower the cost for health care," says Devine, a senior vice president at edaCare who was recently tapped to serve as president of a new statewide health care collaboration. "I do mean lower costs, not just slow the curve." He will have his work cut out for him. National survey data shows that health care costs have escalated by more than 60 percent since 2000, and increases of more than 3 percent per year are common. Nationally, health care spending per capita has risen from $4,127 to $6,815. e numbers in Wisconsin have climbed from $4,206 to $7,233. By sharing resources, expertise and best practices, the new network may finally be able to break that cycle, Devine says, providing higher quality care at certain and transparent prices. "We are very much aware of the financial burden many people face now creates a network of 44 hospitals and 5,680 physicians with a combined service area accessible to nearly 90 percent of the state's population. While it's not a merger — as each of the six providers will remain independent — members of the group will work collaboratively in ways that will help the overall goal of improving care. at could mean sharing information, talent or resources, though many of the finer details have yet to be worked out among the six organizations. "We will learn as we go," Devine says. "ere is already some level of collaboration today among these six providers. e idea now is to do it across a broader geography with evolving markets and evolving demands." ose evolving demands include a shiing focus on Healthy options Statewide network could save money, increase access with health care," Devine says. "We want to deliver the highest quality health care we can and be transparent with that information." Announced in August, the new partnership — not yet named — consists of edaCare; Bellin Health, Green Bay; Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee; Aspirus, Wausau; UW Health, Madison; and Gundersen Health System, La Crosse. e affiliation [continued] » "In the long run, if the network can create more value, and the focus shifts to keeping us healthier instead of reacting to illness, we should see more cost effectiveness." – D u s t i n M c C l o n e, exe c u t i ve v i ce p re s i d e nt – e m p l oye e b e n e f i t s at M c Cl o n e I n s u ra n ce G ro u p