Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh-based Blues plan, has reached a value-based drug-pricing contract with AstraZeneca for Symbicort, which is used to treat asthma and other chronic lung diseases.
UPMC is still quietly fighting to end its relationship with Highmark Health's Medicare Advantage program in Pennsylvania.
Happy kick out cancer day!", "Happy cast decorating day!" and "Happy here's to weird cravings day!" are just some of the 20 sentiments expressed on the cards.
Under a new agreement, Highmark health insurance will retain in-network access to UPMC health system hospitals in Western Pennsylvania. UPMC had planned to cut most business ties with Highmark in June 2019.
David Holmberg, CEO of Highmark Health and board chairman of Highmark, said the organization's focus is on driving utilization to the right care setting and addressing costs for all constituents.
Highmark Health continues to reshape its organization as it gears up for a split with the UPMC health system in 2019. That includes a new partnership with Penn State Health as providers and insurers continue to closely align and scale up to maintain a competitive edge.
Highmark Health will spend $1 billion to expand its Allegheny Health Network hospital chain, including a new 160-bed hospital in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs, four smaller neighborhood hospitals and renovations to existing hospitals.
Geisinger Health System and Highmark Health, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliate and hospital system, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to form a joint venture.
A group of Republican senators introduced a bill Friday to bar the government from paying any award or settlement to the growing number of health insurers suing for funds owed to them under one of the Affordable Care Act's risk programs.
Highmark Health, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliate and hospital system based in Pittsburgh, is still losing money on its Affordable Care Act business. And the company will continue to pursue litigation of the law's risk-corridor funding despite the government's willingness to settle.
Membership in UPMC's health insurance division grew 8% in the past year, according to financial documents released Friday, giving UPMC a bigger foothold as it tries to operate peacefully with its rival Highmark Health.
A provision within the new Medicare physician payment law eliminates the most popular types of Medigap plans and therefore will lead to future Medigap enrollees paying more out of pocket for their medical care.
