The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and health insurer Highmark have agreed to extend physician contracts between the two parties for another year to June 30, 2013, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.
The new contract date is the day contracts for most UPMC hospitals are set to expire, according to the report. However, UPMC officials said that it still plans to end its relationship with Highmark after the new deadline passes.
Two weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave the state's insurance commissioner the authority that could have extended the contract between Highmark and UPMC and could have required the two to enter into arbitration. Some legislators believe that bill put pressure on UPMC to agree to a contract extension with Highmark, according to the report.
Gov. Tom Corbett said he hopes the two parties can reach a long-term deal, but "if they can't, the state may have to step in," according to the report.
The new contract date is the day contracts for most UPMC hospitals are set to expire, according to the report. However, UPMC officials said that it still plans to end its relationship with Highmark after the new deadline passes.
Two weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave the state's insurance commissioner the authority that could have extended the contract between Highmark and UPMC and could have required the two to enter into arbitration. Some legislators believe that bill put pressure on UPMC to agree to a contract extension with Highmark, according to the report.
Gov. Tom Corbett said he hopes the two parties can reach a long-term deal, but "if they can't, the state may have to step in," according to the report.
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