Harrisburg, May 22, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has signed on to a “friend of the court” legal brief aimed at backing the state Attorney General’s lawsuit to enforce the Highmark-UPMC consent decree.
The lawsuit would force the two sides into arbitration to settle outstanding issues. Oral arguments are scheduled for May 27 in Commonwealth Court. Fontana provided the following statement about his decision to join the amicus brief:
“This protracted legal dispute between these two vital health care entities continues to cause widespread confusion and panic. It is also depriving our region’s people of the quality care they have always relied on.
“This petty turf war is particularly devastating for over 180,000 senior citizens and cancer patients who were recently informed that UPMC was cancelling their Medicare Advantage.
“I strongly support the Attorney Generals’ action and pledge to seek a legislative remedy on issues UPMC and Highmark refuse to resolve on their own.
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