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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Dan Frankel |
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Frankel hails House passage of bill to address UPMC-Highmark stalemate
HARRISBURG, Dec. 15 – State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, praised today's approval of H.B. 2052 by the House of Representatives.
"This legislation puts UPMC on notice that the legislature is not going to stand idly by and allow our health care system to be held hostage by top-level executives who think making health care access affordable is not in their best business interest," Frankel said.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny, and co-sponsored by Frankel, would give the insurance commissioner the power to weigh in at the expiration of a contract and would also expand the commissioner’s powers in relation to physician contracts. Additionally, should the parties not be able to come to an agreement, the bill would allow for independent fact-finding to examine the contract provisions.
"One thing has become clear throughout this process," Frankel said. "We don't know what we don't know. There is no transparency in these contracts, and no real competition in the marketplace."
Both the House and Senate committees dealing with insurance held several hearings to discuss the issues surrounding the UPMC-Highmark conflict. House Bill 2052 would allow for an arbitrated contract extension, should all other attempts to negotiate fail.
Frankel has introduced legislation to require binding arbitration specifically for the specialty hospitals, as unique community assets that cannot be replicated. He is also advancing proposals to require more transparency and competition in the health care marketplace by banning sweetheart deals in contracts that protect either insurers or providers from real competition.
House Bill 2052 now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
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