Direct contract intelligence
Direct contracting is how employers are taking back control of healthcare costs. We track every deal, explain every concept, and publish the data that makes it possible.
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Every Friday, the deals that got signed, the contracts that got published, and what it means for employers cutting out the middleman.
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How to negotiate ACO contracts that align incentives, protect your downside, and capture shared savings without losing control of network access.
Read the analysisExplore how self-insured employers are leveraging coalition models to negotiate better healthcare contracts.
Read the analysisThis post breaks down reference-based pricing, its repricing mechanics, and common pitfalls for employers.
Read the analysisWhat is direct contracting?
In plain English, direct contracting means a self-insured employer negotiates rates and care pathways directly with a health system, physician group, surgery center, or platform instead of outsourcing every pricing decision to an insurance carrier. The employer gets cleaner economics, the provider gets a clearer reimbursement arrangement, and employees get a narrower but more intentional network. The upside is lower unit cost, faster payment, and stronger steerage. The tradeoff is that someone has to actually manage the contract, the navigation, and the quality controls.
Learn more →The Direct Contract Tracker
The public market still treats most direct contracts like anecdotes. We’re building a living database instead, with deal terms, employer context, and what the arrangement actually changes.
Seed deals live at launch
Largest member base in tracker
Best public PMPM reduction cited
Self-insured employers (Cost Plus Wellness) · Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Tidemark Therapy is a Cost Plus Wellness–negotiated direct contract available to self-funded employers. Agreement type: Provider Services Agreement. Effective Jun 1, 2026. Licensed in TX. Pricing uses Medicare-indexed rates with no balance billing, no prior authorization requirements, and 30-day cash payment terms. Full contract terms available at https://costpluswellness.com/contracts/tidemark-therapy
Self-insured employers (Cost Plus Wellness) · New York; New Jersey
Wonder Years Psychiatric Services is a Cost Plus Wellness–negotiated direct contract available to self-funded employers. Specialty: Psychiatry. Effective May 1, 2026. Licensed in NY and NJ. Pricing uses 135% of Medicare rates.
Self-insured employers (Cost Plus Wellness) · West Virginia; Ohio
First Settlement Physical Therapy is a Cost Plus Wellness–negotiated direct contract available to self-funded employers. Specialty: Physical Therapy. Effective May 12, 2026. Licensed in WV and OH. Pricing uses 110% of Medicare rates.
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