May 2, 2012
Joint Statement by Highmark and UPMC
PITTSBURGH, May 2 – Highmark and UPMC are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement in principle to provide for in-network access to all UPMC hospitals and physicians for Highmark Commercial and Medicare Advantage members until December 31, 2014.
In addition, in recognition of special local community needs and certain unique services offered by UPMC, and to minimize access to care and rate disputes, Highmark and UPMC have agreed to negotiate rates and terms for continued Highmark member access to certain UPMC services on an in-network basis starting in 2015, including Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, certain oncological services, UPMC Bedford, and UPMC Northwest. Highmark members in a continuing course of treatment at UPMC will also continue to have in-network access to UPMC hospital and physician services.
Current Highmark-UPMC arrangements regarding UPMC Mercy and Children’s Hospital are unaffected by this agreement and will remain in effect. The current Highmark-UPMC arrangements regarding UPMC Hamot, which expire on June 30, 2013 with an additional one-year run-out period, will be extended by six months to December 31, 2014.
As part of its community benefit mission, UPMC will also continue to provide in-network hospital and physician services at preferred rates for certain Highmark plans which serve vulnerable populations, specifically Special Care, pa fair care, CHIP and Guaranteed Issue plans, for such time as these plans continue to be offered by Highmark.
The contractual extension until the end of 2014 will provide for sufficient and definite time for patients to make appropriate arrangements for their care and eliminate the need for any possible governmental intervention under Act 94. Highmark has agreed not to seek or support such intervention in return for UPMC’s agreement to the extension.
This agreement was reached with the assistance of a mediator designated by Governor Corbett and the support of interested legislators. The agreement in principle is binding and will be implemented through formal agreements to be completed by June 30, 2012.
