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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Tony DeLuca |
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DeLuca urges Catholic Bishop to raise his voice in Highmark-UPMC conflict
Sends letters to Governor and House Majority Leader to get involved
HARRISBURG, Oct. 26 – State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, this week urged Bishop David A. Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to raise his voice "on behalf of the many who are frightened and concerned" about the Highmark-UPMC split.
DeLuca said he was pleased to read the Diocese has offered to mediate and has been "quietly trying to induce conversation" but he wants the bishop to do more than "quietly" mediate. "As with other faith-based organizations and denominations who are speaking out loudly, calling for these two corporations to remember their charge, your voice speaks of over 600,000 people in the Pittsburgh Diocese. On their behalf, I ask you to act to bridge the gap in which helpless people are failing," DeLuca wrote.
Last week DeLuca, Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee, said, "People are worried they will lose access to UPMC’s 2,700 doctors and 20 hospitals because these two businesses can’t – or won’t – come to an agreement. Even if people can still access those doctors, they may not be able to afford to pay the high fees that will occur when those doctors are out of their insurance network.”
Letters bearing DeLuca's signature and those of 30 House colleagues were sent this week to Gov. Corbett and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, seeking their involvement. "If government possesses the powers to address this situation, then let's utilize those powers and approach this issue appropriately and immediately," the letter requested.
At DeLuca’s request, the House Insurance Committee held a series of public hearings to gather information on ways to get everyone back to the table and to seriously discuss the issues. The committee heard from UPMC and Highmark, as well as the state Insurance and Health departments.
"People are struggling to make ends meet," DeLuca said in his letter to the bishop. "Forcing them to pay higher health care costs simply because of a corporate grudge match is morally unconscionable. Please vigorously work to heal the wounds, and to forge a deal now, without further delay."
DeLuca said people's lives depend on a resolution of this conflict.
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