The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association has established physician and employer advisory groups to help further develop the association's Blue Health Intelligence database of de-identified claims information.
Created last year, the database will reportedly provide information on healthcare trends, best practices and the efficacy of new treatments and technologies. The advisory groups will be responsible for contributing "research-based insights" and monitoring new cost and quality initiatives, according to a news release.
The employer group includes representatives from Alcoa, General Electric Co., Kroger Co. and Wal-Mart.
The physician panel includes HCA CMO Jonathan Perlin and Partners HealthCare System Network President Thomas Henry Lee Jr.
An association spokesman said that participation on the boards is voluntary and the board members will not be paid.