BRIEF: UPMC, Highmark back in court over Medicare Advantage plan

May 27--HARRISBURG -- The region's health care dispute is back in court today for a hearing on whether UPMC was allowed to cancel its Medicare Advantage plan with Highmark.

James Donahue, executive deputy attorney general for public protection, said the hearing would not have been necessary if UPMC and Highmark had spoken to one another during the formation of the so-called consent decrees governing their breakup.

The decrees set rules for the coverage of various patient groups as UPMC providers cease providing in-network care to Highmark policyholders.

"They created this problem by not speaking with Highmark in the first place," Mr. Donahue said of UPMC.

Mickey Pohl, an attorney for UPMC, said the hearing was about whether UPMC would be found in contempt for a violation of the consent decree. He said it should not be.

"There's a pretty high bar to hold someone in contempt," he said.

The hearing is scheduled to continue into the afternoon.

Karen Langley: klangley@post-gazette.com or 717-787-2141 or on Twitter @karen_langley

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