Media statement from David Holmberg, president and CEO, Highmark Health

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 7, 2019) — "We support the Pennsylvania Attorney General's proposed modified Consent Decree between Highmark and UPMC. It is in the best interest of the communities we serve. We have long held to the truths that vital community assets must be available for the public good and that nonprofit and charitable organizations exist for the benefit of the community.

"We fully agree with the principle of preserving health care choice for all consumers; the sustainability of tiered, high-performance network health plans to meet consumer demand for quality, affordable care; and ensuring health care competition. We have always been, and will remain, willing to support ideas to address heath care that is accessible to all.

"We've always believed that a level playing field should exist among health insurance companies and health care providers. We believe that all health plans and health systems should compete based on their value to the consumer. We welcome working with all health care providers.

"Highmark Health and Highmark Inc. remain fully committed to the execution of our strategy at the Allegheny Health Network (AHN.) Today's action does not change our strategic focus of ongoing, planned investments in AHN and our overall path forward. We are staying the course to provide more health care choices in the community and build a more effective and affordable community-based health care network. Many of the major new facility investments that we have announced over the past 18 months will become operational in 2019, or shortly thereafter. And we continue to explore ways in which we can further enhance the quality and availability of our services in the community.

"We believe the steps taken over the last five years at AHN have prepared us for the future. We've delivered on our promise to build a better, integrated health coverage and care system to meet consumer demand. We've bolstered the region's leading cancer care with our partnership with Johns Hopkins, along with AHN's cardiovascular, women's health and many other community-based services — while fostering significant partnerships with independent, community health systems and providers. As a result, people are staying with us and moving to us."