MASSterList: Shattered dreams | ‘Deeply troubling’ | Surplus splurge

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE OR SUBSCRIBE ON LINK

MASSterList: Shattered dreams | ‘Deeply troubling’ | Surplus splurge

Trying to figure out the logic of Partners’ possible takeover of Harvard Pilgrim

Based on the opinions of health-care experts quoted in Priyanka Dayal McCluskey’s Globe piece this morning, Partners HealthCare’s potential acquisition of Harvard Pilgrim seems to be a real corporate and public-policy head scratcher. “There’s no compelling logic for a merger here,” David E. Williams, president of the Boston consulting firm Health Business Group. He’s not alone in expressing skepticism that such a deal might save money. Boston Globe

Great Barrington is third community to ban single-use plastic bottles

Then there were three. Great Barrington on Tuesday became the third community in the U.S.—all of them in Massachusetts—to ban small, single-use plastic water bottles, Heather Bellow reports in the Berkshire Eagle. The new rule takes effect in January and follows the lead of Concord and Sudbury, both of which have similar bans already in place.  Berkshire Eagle