Senator Ferlo Calls for Urgent Action to Get
Highmark and WPAHS back to the Negotiating Table
Pittsburgh, October 23, 2012 — Tomorrow, State Senator Jim Ferlo and the Community Collaborative Stakeholders will lead a rally and march to bring attention to the quibbling between Highmark and West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) and show community support for the parties to get out of court and back to the negotiating table to finalize their affiliation agreement.
The day will begin with a 12 PM rally by elected officials, labor organizations and other employees, healthcare consumers and concerned citizens at the WPAHS offices at 30 Isabella Street on the North Shore. WPAHS executives will hear the message first, and then the group will march to the Highmark headquarters at Fifth Avenue Place; once again driving home the point that the behavior of the two organizations is undermining public’s welfare and the future of quality healthcare in region.
What: Rally, March, and Press Conference to urge Highmark and WPAHS to “Get Back to the Negotiating Table”
When: 12 PM, Wednesday, October 24
Where: Rally begins at 30 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
The Community Collaborative Stakeholders is an informal, ad hoc coalition of citizens, elected officials (federal, state, county, city) and stakeholders that initially convened due to the announced closing of West Penn Hospital. The group has now refocused in support of the Highmark/WPAHS affiliation agreement. Now that the two organizations are feuding in court, the Stakeholders have turned to urging them back to the negotiating table to prevent further disintegration of their relationship or healthcare services in the region.
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SENATOR JIM FERLO, jferlo@pasenate.com
CONTACT: Anne Huber, ahuber@pasenate.com
PHONE: (717) 787-6123