Pa. Gov. Corbett meets with UPMC, HIghmark chairmen

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett says he’s met with the chairmen of western Pennsylvania’s biggest insurer, Highmark, and its dominant hospital system, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Corbett said he asked them during a meeting today to put aside a bitter disagreement and work together in good faith to protect consumers as the companies’ contract nears an end.

Highmark subscribers stand to lose in-network access to UPMC doctors and hospitals when the contract ends Dec. 31, meaning they’d pay higher rates. Highmark is required to tell state regulators by July 1 whether it has secured a new contract with UPMC.

Highmark covers 3.2 million people in western Pennsylvania.

Corbett has said the dispute shouldn’t force any patient in the midst of treatment to find a new doctor or force anyone to travel farther for hospital care.