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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Got an Olivia or a Noah? Pittsburgh’s Top Baby Names in 2012

West Penn Allegheny Health System reveals the most popular names for this year’s crop of babies.

Oh, baby! West Penn Allegheny Health System has revealed the most popular names out of the 3,400 babies born at West Penn Hospital and Forbes Regional Hospital through November 2012. This year’s top monikers run the gamut of the literary, the Biblical, the distinguished-sounding, the traditional and those that reflect parental creativity. For girls, the no. 1 name on everyone's lips was Olivia. The top name for boys was Noah. West Penn Allegheny parents came up with about 700 different girls’ names and 600 different boys’ names, and many of them had no duplicate, according to the hospital. Sometimes, parents created their own name. Often they added a creative spelling or flourish to an old name, the hospital said. “A” is expected be a …

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State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana

New Development in Highmark-WPAHS Case

State Sen. Wayne Fontana discusses a ruling from the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court regarding the situation between Highmark and the West Penn Allegheny Health System.

In June 2011, Highmark, the region’s dominant health insurer, and West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS), the second largest hospital network in the area, announced an agreement for what they called a “capital partnership.” Highmark would begin to invest $475 million in terms of grants, loans and donations over four years to stabilize the financially ailing WPAHS. This infusion of funding would also grant the hospital system the ability to continue to deliver quality medical services until the two entities could navigate regulatory approval requirements by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. More importantly, this newly formed alliance was created in order to preserve healthcare choice in our region.  By November 2011, Highmark …

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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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Pittsburghers Invited to Fight Back Against Cancer

A historic, nationwide study will be held locally in Peters Township on Tuesday, June 19.

The American Cancer Society and West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) invite Pittsburgh-area residents to participate in a historic, nationwide study that will provide valuable information needed to fight the war against cancer and save lives. Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) is designed to help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause cancer. Local enrollment sites will open June 19-23 at five WPAHS locations across the area. Enrollment dates and sites are: Although walk-ins are welcome, participants are encouraged to sign up in advance at www.seeuthere.com/cps3enroll/WPAHS. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Americans to participate in lifesaving cancer research,” said …

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Health System Launches Tai Chi Program for Arthritis Patients

West Penn Allegheny Health System invites arthritis patients to the Outpatient Care Center in Peters to practice Tai Chi.

Are you living with arthritis? West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) invites individuals living with arthritis to learn about the benefits of practicing Tai Chi. Two free workshops will introduce participants to the movements of Tai Chi and explain why this combination of exercise and meditation is ideal for those coping with arthritis pain and swelling. The complimentary sessions will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 4-5 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. at Allegheny General Hospital on the North Side, and on Friday, Oct. 14 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the WPAHS Outpatient Care Center in Peters Township. A formal six-week program will subsequently be offered for $60. The six weekly sessions will begin at Allegheny General Hospital on Oct. 26, and in…

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