title: Emergence of a new national health services research alliance.
abstract: Although underrepresented to date, PPOs have the potential to become major contributors to health services research. However, policy and health plan decision makers must be informed about the unique features and contributions of PPOs. The authors describe a unique health services research coalition established among 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans nationwide and the Kerr L. White Institute for Health Services Research (Decatur, GA), in collaboration with research institutions and government agencies, that features multiple health plan products within commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid enrollments, but with a specific emphasis on PPOs.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation on Health Care, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madison
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jennings
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000458:organization & administration; D054598:Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans / Q000458:organization & administration; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009935:Organizational Affiliation; D011243:Preferred Provider Organizations; D014481:United States