Brooks Expresses Disappointment in Court Ruling on UPMC

HARRISBURG (June 14, 2019) Although progress has been made on this issue, Sen. Michele Brooks reacted with disappointment to Commonwealth Court Judge Robert E. Simpson’s decision today to let the 2014 Consent Decree between Highmark and UPMC expire as scheduled on June 30.

“I will continue to work on this issue and want to again remind area residents that this latest development is the reason why I worked so hard to have UPMC-Horizon properties remain in-network after June 30th,” Brooks said.  “Today’s decision relates to UPMC services that are not local.”

Brooks also reminds residents that, on June 6, UPMC announced that they would make all UPMC Hillman Cancer Center locations available to all insurers, including Highmark commercial and Medicare Advantage members, at currently agreed upon in-network rates, after the June 30th expiration of the Consent Decrees.

She added: “While we have made some progress, it is very disappointing that bureaucrats do not understand how important in-network access to health care is to rural Pennsylvanians. It is for this reason I worked so hard, for years, to keep UPMC-Horizon in-network for Highmark subscribers after June 30th and have advocated for access to high-quality health care for all residents, regardless of address, affliction or insurance card.”

 Contact:            Diane McNaughton                            (717) 787-1322

                           dmmcnaughton@pasen.gov

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