UPMC threatens to cut off Medicare Advantage access for Highmark patients

UPMC is threatening to lock Highmark's Medicare Advantage customers out of its hospitals and clinics starting Jan. 1, a move Pennsylvania's governor calls an "unacceptable" violation of UPMC's commitment to keep senior citizens out of the crossfire between the two Pittsburgh health rivals. UPMC, Pittsburgh's largest hospital and physician network, has told the state it will make good on the threat unless Highmark, the state's largest health insurer, agrees to increase cancer payments to the hospital system, and agrees to drop a lawsuit related to those oncology payments. About 182,000 Western Pennsylvania seniors have a Highmark Medicare Advantage policy, and if the dispute isn't resolved in the next eight months, those seniors could lose in-network access to UPMC — unless they leave Highmark in favor of another insurance carrier.