Highmark's 'Community Blue' patients rejected by UPMC

When Marie Acquafondata retired after 40 years at what is now UPMC Shadyside, she and her husband, John, had to switch health insurance plans. They left her UPMC Health Plan and signed up with Highmark's new Community Blue plan, offered by his employer.

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Want choice? UPMC should renew its contract with Highmark

The new round of sniping between UPMC and Highmark is a sobering reminder that Western Pennsylvania's health care war may have gone quiet, but it hasn't gone away. The fight is over whether people and businesses will be able to keep choice on medical care and health insurance, or be doomed to a high-priced UPMC monopoly that eventually controls both.

It's just that simple.

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Highmark announces intent to affiliate with Erie's Saint Vincent

Pittsburgh health insurer Highmark Inc. is closer to making its long-anticipated move into the Erie market, announcing this morning a non-binding letter of intent to affiliate with Saint Vincent Health System.

The two parties hope the final deal will be in place by the end of this year. The partnership would allow Highmark to appoint 75 percent of the Saint Vincent board.

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Back and Stronger than Ever…

Made up of community leaders, community groups, local employers, labor representatives, and people like you, the Coalition for Health Care Choice (CHCC) aims to preserve provider choice and ensure that important community assets are available to all.

Health care is a personal matter and all decisions need to be made by consumers. The CHCC remains committed to working with everyone in this community in order to lower health care costs, improve quality of care, and preserve choice for all patients. It’s in the best interest of everyone in Western Pennsylvania, and most importantly, your own health.

Take Control of Your Health Care

The Coalition for Health Care Choice is a new alliance of Community Leaders, Businesses, Health Care Providers, Unions, and Highmark Employees and Retirees in Western Pennsylvania that are dedicated to preserving the consumers' freedom to make health care choices. We believe that health care is a personal and important matter and that all decisions need to be made by consumers – not CEOs.

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Coalition Members

  • Girl Scouts Western PA
    Patricia Burkart – CEO
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • SEIU Healthcare PA
    Neal Bisno
    Harrisburg, Dauphin

  • Bidwell Presbyterian Church
    De Neice Welch – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • NAACP of Washington County
    Robert C. Griffin – President
    Washington, Washington

  • Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
    Rev. Msgr. Michael Servinsky – Monsignor
    Hollidaysburg, Blaire

  • McKenna Senior Center
    Kathy E. Lowstetter – Manager
    Greensburg, Westmoreland

  • Norwin Chamber of Commerce
    Rosanne Barry Novotnak – President
    Irwin, Westmoreland

  • Freeport United Methodist Church
    Edd Myers – Pastor
    Freeport, Armstrong

  • Memorial Baptist Church
    Rev. Dr. David A. Hill – Minister
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • United Way of Westmoreland County
    Dana M. Bauer – VP, Comm. Investments
    Greensburg, Westmoreland

  • Mental Health Association of NW PA
    Bill Grove – CEO
    Erie, Erie

  • Urban Erie Community Development Corp.
    Gary N. Horton – President/CEO
    Erie, Erie

  • Cystic Fibrosis Association, Inc.
    Evelyn Cage – Family Liaison
    Erie, Erie

  • Union Baptist Church
    Jonathan Hill – Pastor
    Kittanning, Armstrong

  • Erie County Diabetes Association
    Nicole Wolf – Associate ED
    Erie, Erie

  • YMCA of Greater Erie
    Sean M Beers – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • United Steelworkers
    Tim Waters
    Upper St. Clair, Allegheny

  • Adagio Health Inc.
    Richard L Baird, Jr. – CEO
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Alle-Kiski Valley Senior Citizens Centers Inc
    Katherine Mazur – Executive Director
    New Kensington, Westmoreland

  • American Carpatho-Russian Diocese
    Very Rev. Frank Miloro – Diocesan Chancellor
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • Andrew Hatalsky
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • ARC of Indiana County
    Barbara Telthorster – Executive Director
    Indiana, Indiana

  • ARC of Washington County
    Christy Lewis – Director
    Houston, Washington

  • Armstrong County Community Action Agency
    Larry Klukan – HR Director
    Kittanning, Armstrong

  • Armstrong County Community Foundation
    Mindy Knappenberger – Executive Director
    Kittanning, Armstrong

  • Audrey Franzetta
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Blind & Vision Rehab Services of Pittsburgh
    Erika Arbogast – President/CEO
    Homestead, Allegheny

  • Brown Chapel AME Church
    Lawrence Thompson – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Carol Scherer
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Carole A. Truman
    Verona , Allegheny

  • Catherine Hills
    Economy, Beaver

  • Cathy Kraus
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Center in the Woods
    George Krcelich – CEO
    Brownsville, Washington

  • Charles Schneider
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Church of Ascension
    Marylin Chislaghi – Parish Administrator
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Clifford Burtoft
    Cranberry TWP, Butler

  • Community Action Southwest
    Jeff Fondelier – VP of Operations
    Washington, Washington

  • Community Circle Food Pantry
    Mundy Fergus – Coordinator
    Washington, Washington

  • Community Health Challenge of SW PA
    Lori Vish-Stearns – Executive Director
    Evans City, Butler

  • Community Nursing Services of North East
    Elizabeth Brooks – Executive Director
    North East, Erie

  • Community of Caring
    Mother Mary Beth Kennedy – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Community of Reconciliation Church
    Rev. Denise Mason Bullitt – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Community Resources for Independence
    Timothy Finegan – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Community Shelter Services, Inc
    Kathleen "Kitty" Cancilla – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Cresson/Gallitzin/Amsbry Charge of UMC
    Joy Blackburn – Reverend
    Cresson, Cambria

  • Crime Victim Center of Erie
    Paul Lukach – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Cross Creek Valley Senior Center
    Nello Mungai (Deal w/Monica) – President
    Avella, Washington

  • Diane Zabec
    Natrona Heights, Allegheny

  • Domestic Violence Services of SW PA
    Michelle Robinson-Ritter – Executive Director
    Washington, Washington

  • Dunmyer Lutheran Church
    Rev. Nila Cogan – Pastor
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • Ebeneezer Baptist Church
    Dr. J. VanAlfred Winsett – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Erie Homes for Children and Adults, Inc
    Paul Carpenedo – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Ethnan Temple-Seventh Day Adventist Church
    William Joseph – Pastor
    Wilkinsburg, Allegheny

  • Family Acts Inc.
    Mark Lamison – Executive Director
    Ford City, Armstrong

  • Family Care Children and Youth
    Teresa Storer – Executive Director
    Milton, Westmoreland

  • Family Services of NW PA
    Thomas Vinca – CEO
    Erie, Erie

  • First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
    Gary Denning – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
    Rev. Dr. Gerald Demarest – Pastor
    Monongahela, Washington

  • Gannondale
    Nancy Sabol – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Garvey Manor
    Joann E. Kasun – Director of HR
    Hollidaysburg, Blaire

  • General Press Corp
    Terrence Conroy – President
    Natrona Heights, Allegheny

  • Gerald Meredith
    Erie, Erie

  • Greater Washington County Food Bank
    Lisa Nuccetelli – Executive Director
    Eighty Four, Washington

  • Green Valley Packing, Inc
    George P. Weiss – President
    Claysville, Washington

  • HAVIN
    Jo Ellen Bowman – Executive Director
    Kittanning, Armstrong

  • Health Care Venture Alliance
    Michael Gallagher – CEO
    Erie, Erie

  • Hillcrest Seventh-Day Adventist Church
    Kurtley Knight – Pastor
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Holly Umbs
    New Castle, Lawrence

  • Holy Family Institute
    Sister Linda Yankoski – President & CEO
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Hopeful Hearts
    Diane Giever – Executive Director
    Indiana, Indiana

  • Humbleheart Ministries
    Rick Maas – President
    Northeast, Erie

  • Jane Lee Crum-Pellegrini
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Jennifer Laugelli

  • Joe Rizzi
    Zelienope, Butler

  • John C Ferguson Jr.
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • John F Kennedy Center Inc
    Samella Hudson-Brewton – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Karen Shapiro
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Kimberly Orr
    Greenville, Mercer

  • Koinonia Church of Pittsburgh
    David Alan Brock – Bishop
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Lakeshore Free Methodist Church
    John P. Fraser – Pastor
    North East, Erie

  • Lynne Airhart
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Mathies & Son Inc./ 422 Sales
    Earl Thoma – President
    Slippery Rock, Westmoreland

  • Matt Baron
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Meadville-Western Crawford County COC
    Kathleen Bishop – President & CEO
    Meadville, Crawford

  • Meals on Wheels of Peters Township
    Susan Ruether – President/Director
    McMurray, Washington

  • Mental Health America - Allegheny County
    Michelle L. McMurray – President & CEO
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Michele Bartos
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Mike Maisco
    West Newton, Westmoreland

  • Mission Empower
    Jill Hrinda-Patten – Executive Director
    Erie, Erie

  • Mrs. S. M. Reid
    Erie, Erie

  • Nancy Geyer
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Nicholas S Duranko
    Allison Park, Allegheny

  • PA Elks Home Service Program
    Marjorie Wood, RN – Special Projects Director
    Washington, Washington

  • Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force
    Charles L. Christen, DrPH, Med – Executive Director
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Progressive Workshop of Armstrong Co.
    Leonard M. Meneely – Executive Director
    Kittanning, Armstrong

  • Providence Connections
    Sister Carolyn Winschel – Executive Director
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Robert Sproule
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Roberta Rowen
    Evans City, Butler

  • Ruth Roberts
    Irwin, Westmoreland

  • SE Technologies, LLC
    Roger A. Dhonau – President
    Bridgeville, Allegheny

  • Sisters of Mercy Erie
    Sister Natalie Rossi – Local Leader Erie
    Erie, Erie

  • Skills of Central PA, Inc
    David "Mike" Rice – President & CEO
    State College, Centre

  • Smail Auto Group
    Clarence Smail – President
    Greensburg, Washington

  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
    Anthony Consiglio – Executive Director
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • St. Andrew's Anglican Church
    Rev. Johnson Bailey – Pastor
    New Kensington, Westmoreland

  • St. John Gualbert Cathedral
    James Crookston – Very Reverend
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • St. John Vianney Catholic Church
    Father Andrew Stanko – Pastor
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • Standard Air & Lite Corporation
    Carolyn McDonald – Secretary/Treasurer
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Sue Froyd
    McMurray, Washington

  • Summit Township Senior Citizens Center
    June Beard – Vice President
    Erie, Erie

  • Superior Forge & Steel / Markovitz Inc
    Anthony Bartley – Treasurer
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • The Lazarus Center
    Julie Guss – Executive Director
    Ambridge, Beaver

  • The LeMoyne Multicultural Community Center
    Joyce D Ellis – Executive Director
    Washington, Washington

  • The Maya Companies
    Terry Pronko – Dir. Human Resources
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Three Rivers Center for Ind. Living
    Stanley Holbrook – President & CEO
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • Trinity United Methodist
    Janet Wensel – Reverend
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • UCP/Class
    Lucy Spruill – Director of Public Policy
    Pittsburgh, Allegheny

  • United Way of Washington County
    Barbara Murphy – President
    Washington, Washington

  • Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports Inc
    Lynnette Emerick – Executive Director
    Greensburg, Westmoreland

  • Westmoreland County Food Bank
    Marlene Kozak – CEO
    Delmont, Westmoreland

  • Willaim Freker
    McKees Rocks, Allegheny

  • William A Snyder
    Monroeville, Allegheny

  • Women's Help Center
    Susan Shahade – Executive Director
    Johnstown, Cambria

  • Women's Services Inc.
    Bruce Harlan – Executive Director
    Meadville, Crawford

  • Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
    Barbara E. Love – Reverend
    Harmony, Butler