News From Around the Web
> Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Salt Lake City-based Health Choice Preferred have announced a value-based care collaboration. Health Choice Preferred will manage more than 10,000 members of Regence's fully insured PPO. Statement
> Among the seven provider systems with which Capital BlueCross of Pennsylvania has signed an accountable care agreement, inpatient admissions are down 4.7 percent for group plans and 7.2 percent for Medicare plans when compared to other contracts, Healthcare Payer News reported. Readmissions for those plans are also down 8 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Article
> Democrats in the Montana legislature had hoped they could ally with enough moderate Republicans to advance the Medicaid expansion plan of Gov. Steve Bullock (D), but that's unlikely to happen, according to Kaiser Health News. Article
Health IT News
> Technology will play an integral role in deployment of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' "Next Generation Accountable Care Organization" model announced Tuesday, several health IT stakeholder organizations say. Article
> Non-Institutional Care Patients had some of the best outcomes through the Veterans Health Administration's Home Telehealth Program; however, a recent audit found that the agency missed opportunities to expand enrollment for those patients. Article
And finally … Tim Burton. Dumbo. Hmm. Article