The Philadelphia Inquirer recently carried a story showing that six insurers are developing a program that will pay primary care doctors to more closely track their patients' health.

This is in response to criticisms that public programs and private insurers only pay to treat people after they are sick. About 150 doctors in 32 primary-care practices will participate in the program, with the companies rewarding doctors for email and phone consultations, offering advice to patients on how to take better care of themselves, and other wellness and prevention programs.

The program will have the flexibility to experiment and see what works in this pilot program, which has the support of Gov. Ed Rendell.