West Penn's Lawsuit Against UPMC, Highmark Dismissed

An antitrust lawsuit filed by Pittsburgh's West Penn Allegheny Health System against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and insurer Highmark has been dismissed after a U.S. District judge ruled that West Penn's suit was "inconsistent," according to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

West Penn filed the lawsuit on April 21, which alleged that Highmark and UPMC illegally raised prices for local health consumers while trying to "destroy" West Penn Allegheny Hospital, listing actions by Highmark and UPMC dating back to 2002, according to the report.

Both UPMC and Highmark said that West Penn's suit was baseless, and Highmark noted that it had provided West Penn with nearly $175 million in loans and grants to strengthen its system, according to the report.

U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab ruled that West Penn failed to prove any facts that supported that UPMC hired West Penn Allegheny physicians for the purpose of denying service to the hospital and that as recently as July 8, West Penn had reported its success in recruiting physicians from UPMC, according to the report.

Read the Post-Gazette's report about the dismissed UPMC/Highmark antitrust suit.