Harrisburg – June 27, 2014 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement concerning the UPMC-Highmark transition agreement. The agreement specifies care options that will be available to health-care consumers in Western Pennsylvania beginning Jan. 1, 2015. The current contract between the two companies expires at the end of this year.
Costa’s statement is as follows:
“The UPMC-Highmark transition agreement provides a path forward for health-care consumers in the Pittsburgh area. The agreement does not go as far as I would have preferred, but there are positive aspects of the negotiated settlement that should be embraced by patients, doctors and communities throughout the region.
“While the agreement is not an extension of the UPMC-Highmark contract, it does preserve in-network access to specialty hospitals, emergency rooms and certain treatment facilities. It also addresses coverage for Medicare.
“Many of us have worked hard both in public discussions and private meetings to talk through approaches and forge an agreement. There were many different options and alternatives available, including a legislative approach favored by Sen. Vulakovich, Reps. Frankel and Christiana and me that would have resolved the disagreement once and for all.
“The UPMC-Highmark dispute has simmered too long. Now that the agreement has been reached, the stress and apprehension that too many health-care consumers have faced for too long can be relieved.”
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