Seattle-based Regence BlueShield is expanding its Episodes of Care value-based care program to include gastroenterology services.
Episodes of Care is Regence's first value-based arrangement to cover clinical procedures, beginning with orthopedics. It now included gastroenterology, cardiac procedures and maternity care.
The program, launched n January 2020, has reduced the cost of orthopedic procedures by 16 percent, compared to the historical costs of those procedures, the payer said in an Aug. 10 news release.
The Washington State Health Care Authority, Regence BlueShield's largest customer, will join the value-based program in January 2022, bringing 363,000 members with it.