What they are saying ... about the Highmark-West Penn break-up

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the Highmark-West Penn partnership was a positive development for the local health care industry.

[Old Cynic]

Couple things:

Remember, Onorato's in the game from the Highmark side now. He knows where all the bones are buried, keep thins in mind.

Second: Why doesn't anybody realize that Highmark isn't interested in the crap that comes with the SEIU? Bankruptcy would have allowed them relief from that union's corruptive practices and they could have set up a system that actually made sense. BUT, in Pittsburgh that will not be mentioned.

[Investigative Report]

Why are Highmark and UPMC even in the hospital ownership business? The Federal Government should investigate both of these organizations as vertical monopolies! For example UPMC functions as:

Hospital System
Healthcare insurance provider ( UPMC Health Plan)
Property and Casualty insurance provider ( Workers Comp)
Workers' Comp TPA
Healthcare insurance TPA
Real Estate Management Company
Benevolent Foundation ( various charitable events)

Highmark Functions as:

Hospital System ( West Penn Allegheny system)
Healthcare Insurance Provider
Property and Casualty Insurance Provider ( Workers Comp)
Workers' Comp TPA
Healthcare TPA
Benevolent Foundation ( chairities)

These organizations get maximum tax breaks, pay their administrators WAY too much ( Melani/ Romoff)

Aren't these organizations basically health insurance providers? If that is the case why are rates in Western Pa some of the highest in the country?

Nobody has the b---s to address these issues! Where is the Trib or Marty Griffin when you need them?