UPMC/Highmark Impasse

The impasse in negotiations between UPMC and Highmark threatens thousands of families throughout western Pennsylvania.  Anxiety is high among families who have depended upon UPMC physicians and medical facilities while using Highmark as their insurer.  The cost to our community trust is significant if no resolution can be found which permits families to have access to UPMC physicians and facilities at a reasonable cost.  Public testimony before the House Insurance Committee and the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee is not hopeful.  UPMC’s CEO, Jeffrey Romoff has taken the public stand of not negotiating.  Highmark, in response has entered a lawsuit against UPMC. 

In the legalities of managed health care, market share and monopolistic practices have become more frequently heard in public testimony than the cost to families for health care.  Despite efforts made in the past in the name of making health care affordable, the cost of medical services continues to skyrocket.  Fewer choices have been offered by the medical services industry as western Pennsylvania’s hospitals have been consolidated into UPMC or West Penn/Allegheny Systems.  With Highmark’s 4 billion dollar reserve to offer physicians, and UPMC’s offering of medical services and insurance, it appears the previous checks and balances that occured through independent insurers and medical service providers has been lost.  Cost containment appears to be an illusion.  Serving families has been lost in the debate.