HEALTH

Pact Aims to Cut Surgical Costs: Hospital supplier Baxter International announced a five-year agreement with Duke University Medical Center with built-in incentives for reducing surgical costs. Baxter said the accord marks the industry’s first such agreement covering surgical supplies. It and other hospital suppliers are seeking ways to help customers cut expenses in response to public pressure to contain health care costs. Under the deal, Baxter and Duke set target costs for supplies for various surgical procedures.