Highmark, West Penn hospitals reach new contract

West Penn Allegheny Health System and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield have announced the signing of a new five-year contract, providing coverage by the region's largest insurer in all six of West Penn Allegheny's hospitals. The agreement comes a year after West Penn Allegheny's chief executive officer accused Highmark of paying hospitals controlled by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center substantially more for the same services.