Highmark, HVHS reach new contract [Beaver County Times, Pa.]

Oct. 31--BRIGHTON TWP. -- Highmark insurance customers will continue to have access to care at Heritage Valley Health System locations, after the two entities reached a new contract agreement this week.

The new agreement ensures that Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield members will be able to receive health care services at all HVHS offices, medical neighborhoods, and at its two hospital campuses, Heritage Valley Beaver in Brighton Township and Heritage Valley Sewickley, according to HVHS President and Chief Executive Officer Norm Mitry.

Highmark Health Services and HVHS announced the multiyear contract in a joint news release on Wednesday, but they declined to release the length of the contract term.

Mitry said the agreement should provide some peace of mind for local Highmark subscribers, at a time when there is much uncertainty surrounding the ongoing contract dispute between Highmark and UPMC.

"I think what the contract extension does is it allows the community to have a comfort that ... they're not going to be uprooted and have to go someplace else," Mitry said.

Mitry said the health system has long prided itself on contracting with all providers and caring for patients no matter what insurance card they carry -- whether from Highmark, UPMC Health Plan or many others -- and will continue to offer services to Highmark customers under the new contract.

Michael Fiaschetti, president of Health Markets for Highmark, said in the news release that it's important for independent health systems to have a strong working relationship with Highmark.

"We are pleased that the new contract with Heritage Valley achieves an important balance, reimbursing the institution to provide necessary care to Highmark Health members, while also recognizing the need to maintain comprehensive and affordable health benefit programs for Highmark Health Services customers," he said. "Highmark is committed to working with community hospitals to support improvements in health care that will enable them to remain independent and will assure affordable access to quality medical care for its members in community-based settings."

Highmark also will continue to work collaboratively with HVHS and likely bring them into the patient-centered medical home program in the near future, officials said. The program is designed to encourage physicians and patients to stay healthy and engage in preventive health practices, Mitry explained.

"The way health care is changing under the Affordable Care Act, the focus is on primary care and that every person should have a primary care physician and that primary care physician should coordinate the care that that patient needs," Mitry said. "When you go see your primary care physician he or she should coordinate what you need, whether it's making sure your mammography is done, your colon screening is done ... they try to keep all individuals as healthy as possible in a medical home model rather than wait ... until a single episodic event."

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