Judge Orders UPMC Must Accept Highmark Medicare Advantage Patients

Commonwealth Court President Judge Dan Pellegrini ruled that the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) must continue to see Highmark’s Medicare Advantage members on an in-network basis as the two sides negotiate terms on disputed payments. The ruling orders that UPMC’s health system must maintain in-network rates until 2019 for people insured by Medicare Advantage plans sold through Highmark. More than 180,000 Pennsylvania seniors are part of those plans. UPMC plans to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

In addition, Judge Pellegrini said UPMC and Highmark must go to arbitration for several other . . .