Article: Major out-of-hospital services merge Is Blue Cross marriage with Bay State Health for better or for worse?

A day after announcing plans to acquire Bay State Health Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts faces a critical question: Is it swallowing a pill that is going to make it healthier or sicker?

Bay State is a company with severe problems. Blue Cross, on the other hand, has had little success expanding beyond its traditional health insurance base into managed care plans like health maintenance organizations.

"I think it's fair to ask: Does Blue Cross have the cash and the management resources to take on this responsibility?" said Stephen Caulfield, a managing director at William M. Mercer, a benefits consulting firm.

Blue Cross agreed Tuesday to buy the assets and liabilities of Bay ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!