Health insurers adopt programs to cut hospitalizations, costs

Health insurer Aetna Inc. (AET) is developing plans to pay a major San Diego medical group enhanced fees for providing extra services to keep patients healthier, and to share any resulting cost savings.

With a similar cost-saving goal, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) has started to base payments to its network providers partly on cost and quality measures, and Cigna Corp. (CI) guarantees corporate clients it will lower employee health risks.