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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Tony DeLuca
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DeLuca spearheads effort to bring closure to UPMC/Highmark conflict
HARRISBURG, Dec. 15 – State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, today said legislation he spearheaded to help resolve the conflict between UPMC and Highmark passed overwhelmingly, 186-6.
"House Bill 2052 would direct the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to negotiate with Highmark on a contract," DeLuca said. "If they cannot reach an agreement, provisions of the bill would trigger a mediation phase and, ultimately, binding arbitration if that becomes necessary."
DeLuca said the vote follows six months of House and Senate Insurance Committee hearings, letters, media events and negotiations.
"This issue is much too important to sit back and watch or just let the process play out," said DeLuca, Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee, who spearheaded the effort.
"I am hopeful that UPMC will go back to the negotiating table with Highmark," DeLuca said. "Highmark is one of the largest health insurers in western Pennsylvania and insures over 2 million people – that is just too many lives to leave hanging on something as essential as health care coverage."
DeLuca said H.B. 2052 was sponsored by Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny.
"This is not a partisan issue," said DeLuca, second sponsor of the legislation. "We cannot just stand by and watch our constituents lose access to 3,000 doctors and 20 hospitals.
"I urge the Senate to move this bill forward as soon as they return to session in January and send it to the governor so that the people of western Pennsylvania can rest more easily about the future of their health care insurance and the access they will have to doctors and hospitals in our region," DeLuca said.