HEALTH

Maxicare, Merck-Medco Form Venture: Maxicare Health Plans Inc. said it formed the alliance with a Merck & Co. unit to improve treatment of its 395,000 health plan members by gathering patient care data and giving doctors information on preferred treatments. The two companies said they will document the cost and results of various treatments so they can identify those that are most effective. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Los Angeles-based Maxicare also hired Montvale, N.J.-based Merck-Medco Managed Care Inc. to manage the prescription drug use for all of its members for four years, beginning Jan. 1.