Highmark announces Allegheny Health Network as its new integrated delivery network focused on preserving health care choice and providing high-quality care

PITTSBURGH, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark today announced the creation of Allegheny Health Network as the region's newest integrated delivery care system focused on preserving health care choice and providing affordable, high-quality care. Having secured final review and approval from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on Highmark's Form A filing, the hospitals and providers of West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) will now serve as a key component of Allegheny Health Network.

"Today marks a historic and exciting day for health care in our region. I'm pleased to announce Allegheny Health Network as our integrated health care delivery network," said William Winkenwerder, Jr., M.D., Highmark's president and CEO. "Allegheny Health Network is focused on preserving health care choice for all consumers and patients in our region. We thank the entire community, business leaders and elected officials for their tremendous support throughout the regulatory review process."

Allegheny Health Network further complements Highmark's growing enterprise as a national diversified health and wellness company, providing health services and care to one out of every 10 Americans. Highmark's new enterprise includes: Allegheny Health Network operating as a regional health care provider; Highmark Health Services, which is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association doing business in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware, diversified health businesses that serve group customer and individual health needs across the United States in dental (United Concordia Companies), vision (Visionworks and Davis Vision) and supplemental health products (HM Insurance Group). 

"The physicians, health professionals and employees at our health system are very excited about today's positive news regarding our affiliation with a national company like Highmark," said Tony Farah, M.D., WPAHS chief medical officer. "We believe this partnership is terrific for us. Our goal is to work collaboratively to transform health care in Western Pennsylvania by improving the quality of care and making it more affordable." 

Today, Highmark, Highmark Health Services, Allegheny Health Network, and WPAHS closed on its affiliation, the combination of which will help to strengthen the health system's financial position.

"Our new health system has a strong future ahead of it with collaboration, teamwork and the patient at the center of all decisions," said John Paul, newly named president and CEO of Allegheny Health Network. "This new integrated delivery network will create more health care choice and a greater focus on individual wellness and disease prevention – all of which will provide immediate and longer-term benefits to our patients and customers."

Allegheny Health Network also includes Jefferson Regional Medical Center, which joined the network on March 1, Premier Medical Associates and other group practices, scores of physicians, a medical group purchasing organization, a physicians' administrative organization, ambulatory surgical centers and a medical mall. Saint Vincent Health System in Erie, upon receipt of approval for its affiliation from the Erie County Orphans' Court, will also become part of Allegheny Health.  

SOURCE Highmark Inc.