On the other hand, UPMC legal counsel Leon DeJulius challenged the Attorney General’s authority to extend the consent decrees. He pointed out that in 2013, UPMC Board decided not end its agreement with Highmark. He also pointed out that both nonprofit health giant frequently advertised that their contract is set to expire on June 30.
“No one told UPMC that the modification provision could be used to annul the agreement that they just signed. To believe the attorney general, one has to believe that UPMC management went directly against the board’s wishes,” said DeJulius.
He added that the consent decrease were intended for Highmark and UPMC to “transition to a new world” where they will no longer work as business partners.