While continuing to maintain that an agreement between insurer Highmark Inc. and provider UPMC is the preferred outcome, the Allegheny County Medical Society is now saying that "we recognize that may not happen; and therefore, UPMC and Highmark should formalize an orderly transition plan to minimize disruption of care and costs." UPMC officials have been pushing for such a transition plan once they declared they would not renew UPMC's contract with Highmark; Highmark officials say they want to negotiate a contract, but will not discuss a separation. The current contract expires June 30, with a one-year run out period for hospital services; the two sides disagree about whether the run out period includes physician services.
