Highmark-West Penn Allegheny Merger Update

'The recent disagreements between Highmark and UPMC have caused great concern and anxiety for the many people who are employed by these health care giants, customers, individuals and companies ... as well as local officials.' - state Sen. Wayne Fontana

In 2011, the state's largest insurer, Highmark, signed an affiliation agreement with the financially troubled West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) and its five Pittsburgh-area hospitals to create an integrated health system. The goal of the acquisition is for the integrated health system to be a competitor to the largest hospital network in western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Now, the acquisition agreement between Highmark and WPAHS is set to expire at the end of the month. At this point, it is up to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to make a decision on whether the money being spent by Highmark will compromise the health care system's ability to pay the claims of its customers while still …

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DETAILS: Ring in 2013 at First Night Pittsburgh

The downtown event promises a lot of fun and activities.

Ring in the new year with fellow Pittsburghers at Highmark's First Night Pittsburgh event. The family-friendly event is produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and provides visitors the opportunity to ring in the new year while celebrating the arts—dance, music, theater, comedy, hands-on activities and more. Several of the city's theaters will be hosting a variety of performances. The event begins at 6 p.m. with the Dollar Bank children's fireworks display and a performance by American Idol finalist—and Washington County native—Adam Brock at the Seventh Street-Penn Avenue stage. A parade begins at 8 p.m., and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be performing at 10:45 p.m. on the Highmark stage on Penn Avenue next to Fifth Avenue Place. For a…

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Letters to the Editor

B-W Residents Take on UPMC/Highmark Battle

The Oct. 4 Post-Gazette wore purple and white.

Baldwin-Whitehall residents made their presence known in the pages of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday—well, at least one page, in the Opinion section. Coincidentally, two men from the district wrote letters to the editor regarding health care, particularly the ongoing battle between UPMC and Highmark. Writes Ed Larkin of Baldwin Borough, "When will it be time to settle this squabble by providing a single-payer, government-run (nonprofit) system that provides health care at one-half the cost like all the other countries in the world? "We don't remember reading much about power struggles for providing health care in other countries." Read Larkin's full letter here. Writes Walt Schran of Whitehall Borough, "As an individual Highmark …

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cc

11:32 am on Friday, October 5, 2012

Sandra, they have to pay to rent space in the hospital so they pass this amount to the clients. I got a bill like that for my son at Allegheny General Hospital (not UPMC). His next appointment, I drove my son to the office out in the North Hills and did not have to pay that fee. I was told if you want to see a Dr at the Hospital expect the fee, if you go to another office then you don't get …   more ›

Vernon Landslide Repairs, Labor Contract Savings and More Baldwin Boro News

Notes from Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Vernon Landslide Costs Borough $462K When it’s all said and done, Baldwin Borough will pay Plavchak Construction, of Jefferson Hills Borough, $462,000 to repair a landslide that occurred on Vernon Avenue in the spring of 2011, according to Baldwin's engineer Larry Souleret. Due to difficulty handling utility lines in the area, workers have had to push back their completion date on Vernon to the end of September 2012. "We're finally wrapping it up," Souleret said during Tuesday night's Baldwin Council meeting. New Labor Contract A switch in health care providers from Highmark to UPMC for Baldwin Borough's construction, general labor and material handlers workers should save Baldwin "six figures," according to borough Manager John Barrett. …

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Michael Stelmasczyk

7:25 am on Friday, September 21, 2012

Common Sense - The bidding for this project was open to all companies including any that were in the local area. Local companies were able to submit bids just like any other company. State law requires open bidding for a project of this size and once the bids are open, they are final. There is no such thing as opening a bid and then sharing that with another company so that they can match it or …   more ›

PatchCast: Councilman Threatened, CEO's Charges Withdrawn & Golden Apple

A roundup of the week's top stories.

Here are this week's top stories from Patch sites in your region: Councilman Threatened With Shotgun Assault, Trespassing Charges Against Former Highmark CEO Withdrawn Tax Dollars Pay for Cyber Charter School Ads Dormont Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award

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PatchCast: Possible New Pharmacy, 'Pay to 'Play,' Library Troubles & Rabbit Rescuer

A roundup of the region's top stories.

Here's a look at some of the top stories from Patch sites in your area this week: Goodbye Crossgates Plaza? CVS May Build New Store Task Force Forming to Save Library 'Pay to Play,' Tax Raise, Staff Cuts All on the Table for 2012-13 B-W Budget Public Hearing on Transit Cuts Thursday Local Student Supports Rabbit Rescue, Fosters Furry Friends  --- Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for the daily Baldwin-Whitehall newsletter.

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'Pay to Play,' Tax Raise, Staff Cuts All on the Table for 2012-13 B-W Budget

Required reading for district residents.

Tax Raise, Budget 'Shortfall' Faced with an over $1.3-million budget shortfall for the 2012-13 school year despite a recommended property tax raise of 1.08 mills, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board is considering a bevy of options to both bridge that budget gap and prevent that tax hike. Among the options being considered in the B-W School District are staff reductions, advertising on school buses, fees to use school buses and a "pay to play" system for middle- and high-school sports and other extracurricular activities. Although it hasn't raised district property taxes since a 1.50-mill increase in 2006-07 to help pay for renovations to Baldwin High School, the B-W School Board is almost certain to raise taxes for 2012-13. The expected …

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Jean Smith

6:55 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

Michael not all charter school students sit at home behind a computer. There are charter schools out there, an alternative to send our children to and to get a better education.   more ›

Remaining Notes from Jan. 18 B-W School Board Meeting

District recognitions, new printer/copier contract approved, Lions Club donation and much more.

Outstanding Students Applauded The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board recognized a number of B-W School District students on Wednesday night, starting with its applause of J.E. Harrison Middle School seventh-grader Katie Zemaitis for winning a First Night Pittsburgh Singing Contest and performing at The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2012. The board also congratulated Katarena McCall (cosmetology), Nicholas Keller (collision repair & refinishing), Matthew Mient (auto mechanics), Shawdaea Hatch (cosmetology) and Richard Conti (auto mechanics) as recent recipients of Extra Effort awards from Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School. Retired Steel Center Director Thanked for His Service B-W …

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VIDEO: Katie Zemaitis Performs at Benedum on NYE

Harrison Middle School seventh-grader sings Martina McBride's 'Anyway.'

Katie Zemaitis, a seventh-grader at J.E. Harrison Middle School, performed at The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2012. Zemaitis was invited to perform during the New Year's Eve celebration as the winner of Equitable Gas and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's First Night Pittsburgh Singing Contest. Zemaitis' audition video of her singing Martina McBride's "Anyway" earned the most fan votes out of all challengers for the right to perform at The Benedum Center. Zemaitis also won $500 in cash. Zemaitis, 12, and her family live in Whitehall Borough. She performed "Anyway" again on New Year's Eve.  --- Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

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Git Aht!: The Weekend Planner

Here are 10 events happening this weekend, including some special New Year's Eve events.

Welcome to the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch's Weekend Planner! Got no idea what you'll do this weekend? Patch is coming to the rescue. We've got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check out our top picks for this weekend to find something for everyone in the family to enjoy. It's a good idea to have cash ready for these events. 1. Local Disaster Relief Donations Where?/When?: Wendy's/Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 29-31 Why Go?: Now through Dec. 31, customers who visit area Wendy's restaurants can make a $1 donation to support local disaster relief efforts and subsequently receive free Junior Frosties for an entire year. Customers can purchase a Junior Frosty Key Tag for $1 and then show that key tag on subsequent visits to …

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