OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic among 6 Ohio hospital systems forming purchasing, clinical coalition

Two of Ohio's largest health systems OhioHealth Corp. and Cleveland Clinic, are among six forming a statewide cost-control and quality improvement collaborative to get "ahead of the curve" as insurers demand better health outcomes for lower prices. Members also are studying whether and how to create a statewide super-network to negotiate with those insurers. The Midwest Health Collaborative announced Tuesday also includes Canton-based Aultman Hospital, Dayton-based Premier Health, Toledo-based ProMedica and Cincinnati-based TriHealth. "Somewhere up ahead — I cant tell you exactly when — the pressure and the demand by those paying for care are (to seek) more predictable price and predictability on outcomes," Mike Bernstein, OhioHealth senior vice president and chief strategy officer, told me. "We absolutely need to be prepared."