UPMC & Highmark Resolve Antitrust Dispute After Four Years Of Litigation

On October 23, 2013, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (Highmark) reached a tentative agreement to settle an antitrust lawsuit filed in 2009. The UPMC health system has been in the Highmark provider organization network, but UPMC also operates a health plan. The lawsuit had initially been filed in 2009 by West Penn Allegheny Health System against both Highmark and UPMC. West Penn Allegheny, a small health system alleged that the two larger organizations set prices to stifle competition. After Highmark agreed to buy West Penn, Highmark was dropped from the lawsuit. Highmark . . .