About 24,000 Highmark employees were not part of an agreement reached with UPMC to provide in-network access to UPMC physicians and hospitals, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The employees affected are in Pittsburgh-based Highmark's narrow network plans, which include Community Blue and Select Blue policies that cover about 300,000 people. Beginning July 1, these employees will only have limited in-network access to Pittsburgh-based UPMC facilities. The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and Western Psychiatric Hospital, also in Pittsburgh, are considered in network, but most other UPMC hospitals and physicians — including the Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh — will be considered out of network.
UPMC and Highmark ended their contentious dispute June 24 with a landmark 10-year contract. However, 24,000 Highmark employees will "need to transition to in-network providers" to avoid higher prices, Highmark spokesperson Aaron Billger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He added, "We have every confidence that our employees' health needs can be met in full by the outstanding, comprehensive range of services provided by [Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network] and the region's outstanding community hospitals and independent providers" included in the narrow network plans.
More articles on payers:
Aetna expands home care network: 4 things to know
5 recent payer data breaches
Centene, WellCare shareholders approve merger deal