Highmark—West Penn Allegheny Merger Update

The recent disagreements between Highmark and UPMC have caused great concern and anxiety for the many people who are employed by these health care giants, customers, individuals ... as well as local officials, State Sen. Fontana says.

In 2011, the state’s largest insurer, Highmark, signed an affiliation agreement with the financially troubled West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) and its five Pittsburgh-area hospitals to create an integrated health system. The goal of the acquisition is for the integrated health system to be a competitor to the largest hospital network in western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Now, the acquisition agreement between Highmark and WPAHS is set to expire at the end of the month. At this point, it is up to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to make a decision on whether the money being spent by Highmark will compromise the health care system’s ability to pay the claims of its customers while still …

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

WPAHS and Highmark Make Progress With Agreement

Officials with WPAHS and Highmark have reached an agreement on a debt reduction deal with bondholders, and now it's important for the insurance department to act, State Sen. Fontana says.

Last November, I expressed my concerns with the news that Highmark and West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) had ended negotiations to finalize their affiliation agreement. The two entities appeared in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in October after WPAHS claimed Highmark breached their affiliation agreement by insisting WPAHS file for bankruptcy prior to executing the agreement. As a result, WPAHS began searching for other suitors in place of Highmark, which prompted Highmark to ask the Court to block WPAHS from talking to other potential partners. A Common Pleas judge ruled on the matter and blocked WPAHS from talking to other potential affiliation partners. Recently, we have come to learn that after re-starting the negotiations…

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Ring in 2013 at First Night Pittsburgh

The downtown event promises a lot of fun and activities.

Ring in the new year with fellow Pittsburghers at Highmark's First Night Pittsburgh event. The family-friendly event is produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and provides visitors the opportunity to ring in the new year while celebrating the arts—dance, music, theater, comedy, hands-on activities and more. Several of the city's theaters will be hosting a variety of performances. The event begins at 6 p.m. with the Dollar Bank children's fireworks display and a performance by American Idol finalist—and Washington County native—Adam Brock at the Seventh Street-Penn Avenue stage. A parade begins at 8 p.m., and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be performing at 10:45 p.m. on the Highmark stage on Penn Avenue next to Fifth Avenue Place. For a…

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Fontana Discusses Highmark-WPAHS Situation

The inability of WPAHS to continue offering health care services would be detrimental to thousands of consumers in the region, state Sen. Wayne Fontana says.

Last year, news broke of an agreement between Highmark and West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) that would see the health plan acquire the hospital. As WPAHS has faced mounting debt obligations, this news was seen by many as a means to keeping WPAHS in business. Most importantly, it was viewed by many as an important component in preserving competition among hospital providers in the region, affording consumers the choices they deserve in their health care needs while also protecting health care-related jobs. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has held public hearings on the affiliation agreement and has been working with all parties involved to review the agreement before providing ultimate approval. In the last week, we have come…

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PatchCast: Councilman Threatened, CEO's Charges Withdrawn & Golden Apple

A roundup of the week's top stories.

Here are this week's top stories from Patch sites in your region: Councilman Threatened With Shotgun Assault, Trespassing Charges Against Former Highmark CEO Withdrawn Tax Dollars Pay for Cyber Charter School Ads Dormont Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award

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Ring in the New Year with First Night

This event in downtown Pittsburgh promises a lot of activities, events and fun for those who attend.

Pittsburghers can ring in the new year with tons to do at Highmark's First Night Pittsburgh event. The event begins on Dec. 31 at 6 p.m., with several activities being held throughout downtown Pittsburgh. First Night is a unique, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration focused on the arts. Held in more than 200 cities worldwide, the Pittsburgh festival is centered in the Cultural District and is a production of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. First Night Pittsburgh has something for everyone, from children’s activities and performances by nationally known musicians, to installations by local artists and a spectacular fireworks finale. Visitors can enjoy swing dancing, juggling, arts and crafts, ice carving, a magic show, the First Night …

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

State Sen. Fontana's Update on UPMC-Highmark Situation

Fontana says agreement is step in the right direction, but more should be done to protect consumers.

Last week, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Highmark announced their physician contract, which was set to expire on June 30, 2012, would be extended for one year. Under this agreement, Highmark customers will be able to access UPMC hospitals and physicians at in-network rates through June 30, 2013. While this news provides some temporary relief to the millions of customers affected by this ongoing dispute, it does not mean a long-term agreement is on the horizon. Once this new agreement expires, consumers could still be faced with unaffordable out-of-network costs and a lack of choices in the facilities and doctors they can use in-network.  As I have indicated before, the legislature cannot force these two entities to…

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

State Sen. Fontana Discusses Highmark-UPMC Dispute

Fontana outlines health care concerns, and discusses what the state can—and can't—regulate.

Over the past few months, I have been asked time and time again why the state cannot force the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Highmark to enter into another contract.  Individuals are concerned about not only the cost of their health care, but even more importantly, what it will mean to their access to health care and the doctors and facilities that they choose. Quite simply, the role of the government in the regulation of business is very limited.  The Commonwealth cannot force two private companies into a contract.  While there is a broad grant of power to Congress under the Commerce Clause, the state’s ability to regulate business has been framed by whether it impacts the health, safety and welfare of the residents …

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

Consumers Are Stuck in the Middle of Highmark/UPMC Stalemate

Legislation has been introduced to address the issue.

This past week I participated in a news conference in Harrisburg to discuss legislation that would help preserve access to health care for millions of people in western Pennsylvania.  This is a direct result of the stalemate that continues between the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Highmark. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are urging UPMC and Highmark to break the stalemate and do the right thing for those who rely on the companies for their health care needs. The priority should be on what’s best for the public. It’s easy to get caught up in the business aspect of the stalemate, but I have not lost sight of the fact that patients are the priority here and it’s not fair that they have to be stuck in the middle. …

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JoAnn

9:03 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011

Larry, Thank you for the list of the UPMC Board of Directors. Everyone should call all of them and voice our concerns, albeit, they all know what they are. However, I'm surprised these names haven't been published in the PG's section of the "Letters to the Editor" from angry members of UPMC and Highmark.   more ›

USC Couple Doggone Determined to Raise Awareness

Arlene and David Weintraub, of Upper St. Clair, are organizing the third annual MGA Doggie Walk to raise awareness about a little-known disease.

Two and a half years ago on a Caribbean cruise, Arlene Weintraub's vision became blurred and she started seeing double. She didn't know what was wrong, and for six months, neither did any of her doctors. The muscle weakness spread to her arms and legs. "My quality of life was poor, sometimes I couldn't even get out of bed," said Arlene, of Upper St. Clair. Finally a doctor diagnosed her with the myasthenia gravis—a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disorder with no cause and no cure. "I have MG, but it doesn't have me," she said. Arlene is determined to continue having a high quality of life with her diagnosis, which is why she and her husband, David, are working tireless hours to plan the Third Annual MGA's Doggie Walk. "I want to make people…

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