State wins court order in UPMC-Highmark fight over Medicare
HARRISBURG (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Kathleen Kane are hailing a court decision they sought to protect Medicare Advantage enrollees caught in the middle of a dispute between two Western Pennsylvania health care giants.
The Commonwealth Court ruling Friday orders the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to maintain in-network rates to people insured by Medicare Advantage plans sold through Highmark Inc.
The Wolf administration and the state attorney general’s office went to court in April seeking the order.
The move by UPMC to cancel its Medicare Advantage contract with rival Highmark meant about 180,000 seniors in Western Pennsylvania could lose in-network access to UPMC hospitals and doctors next year.
UPMC said it will appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.