Latest news with #Highmark
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Midstate firm honors Flag Day early with service
(WHTM) — Saturday is Flag Day, which commemorates the day our flag was adopted in 1777. Many flags, of course, will be flying this weekend. Highmark Blue Shield in Camp Hill held a flag-raising ceremony a day early. 'We raise it every single day,' said Kathleen McKenzie, vice president of community affairs for Highmark. 'Highmark always had the American flag out, and we listen to what's happening in the world and we're asked to, at certain times, lower the flag in memory or honor of certain things that are going on in our country. 'It's a rallying tool, I guess, or a symbol for us as Americans whenever things are going back, we can all rally around the flag because it brings us together,' said Roosevelt Allen, DDS, senior vice president and chief dental officer for United Concordia. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Pennsylvania was the first state to establish Flag Day as an official holiday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dominion Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
Mon Commission grappling with soaring insurance costs
MORGANTOWN — 'This is just not sustainable.' Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom lamented that the annual increases in the cost of group employee health insurance is on a trajectory that will consume an untenable percentage of the county's overall budget in the near future without intervention. On Wednesday, the commission approved a proposal from Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield that comes with a 20.48% cost increase to the county when it takes effect Aug. 1. All told, the percentage increase absorbed by the county will total just over $1 million. Commissioner Sean Sikora explained that the final agreed-upon number was actually negotiated down significantly from Highmark's opening offer, which would have kept everything unchanged from the current plan — except the cost, which would have jumped 34.8%. In order to bring the percentage down, the commission agreed to raise employee deductibles from $6,000 single/$12,000 family to $7,000/$14,000. That disclosure was followed by a commitment from the commission to cover all employee deductibles at a potential maximum cost of $900,000. There will be a change on the employee end. Co-insurance — the percentage of a medical bill the patient pays after meeting the deductible — will increase from 10% to 20%. 'Really, that's the only negative impact to the employees,' Sikora said. 'There's two positive impacts. One, they're not getting a premium increase when there is one — a significant one. Two, they're not having to pay any deductible, which previously they had to pay $750 or $1,500.' Sikora explained that the county, like many other public and private entities, is facing what's known as the 'group plan dilemma' in which costs rise higher and higher while the level of satisfaction – either from employees, employers or both – falls. Embedded within the group plan concept is the inevitability that a small number of individuals will push costs up for everyone. It was explained that the offer Highmark first presented to the county was predicated on the fact that the company paid out 23% more than it collected in premiums in the current cycle. 'The problem we're dealing with is our experience in claims is what's driving our cost. There's nothing we can do about that. It's really just what they call in the industry the 'group dilemma.' Having these group plans, if we put it out to bid or we ask for a new proposal, we're paying for our experience. All that information is known and all that information is out there. We have a small portion of our participants that account for nearly 50% or 60% of all our claims, and those aren't going away.' While the commission opted to move forward with the Blue Cross/Blue Shield proposal, the insurance discussion isn't over. The body recently heard a pitch regarding ICHRA, or Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement, through which employees would work with a consultant to select their own health plan options from various insurance carriers and the commission would reimburse employees tax-free for premium costs up to a defined amount. As it stands, the commission is looking at an overall insurance spend of approximately $6 million in a $43.6 million budget. That's up from about $4.9 million. Based on recent history, there's no indication the county won't be back in this position a year from now. 'And that's just not realistic. That's not acceptable. We have to look at other options,' Bloom said.
Business Journals
10-06-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
How Highmark Blue Shield delivers pharmacy value for clients, members
With the rising cost of prescription drugs, companies across the country are faced with challenging decisions to balance affordability and access for their employees. From specialty medications that are life-changing but carry a six or seven figure price tag, to generic medications that become scarce and spike in price, there's no shortage of pharmacy-related pressures for employers who already face an uncertain economy. At Highmark, more than a third of our overall health care spend is now allocated to pharmacy costs. And, of that pharmacy-related spend, about half of it is on specialty medications that typically treat chronic, complex health conditions associated with high costs. To best serve our clients and members, we have forged partnerships and launched innovative programs that boost prescription drug affordability and adherence. And we also follow the real-world evidence of how effective a medication is to ensure we're delivering value. Specialty pharmacy innovation Highmark is working with a healthcare technology company, Free Market Health, to provide streamlined access to prescription drugs for Highmark members with complex health conditions, from specialty pharmacies equipped to provide high-quality care management. We're utilizing Free Market Health's platform, which matches specialty medication referrals and pharmacies in real time while balancing the cost and value of care. Patients are benefitting, with a reduction in drug abandonment and a reduction in claims costs for medications, benefiting members and group customers. We also leverage the Free Market Health platform to incentivize specialty pharmacies serving some of our most medically complex members to administer social determinants of health assessments and identify individuals facing additional challenges. Identified members are referred to a Highmark social worker to address their Social Determinates of Health (SDOH) concerns. Lowering generic drug costs We have seen more essential generic outpatient medications become scarce or expensive in recent years, creating barriers to better health. These shortages and price spikes create additional stress and financial strain for consumers. When it became time to develop a national response, Highmark stepped up and has continued to play an important role in CivicaScript, a new non-profit drug company dedicated to bringing quality and affordable outpatient generic medications to market. Highmark members are saving money on their generic oral oncology medication prescriptions through Highmark's leading role in CivicaScript. Members taking abiraterone acetate, which is used to treat prostate cancer, are saving an average of $90 per month in out-of-pocket expenses for the medication through Highmark's role with CivicaScript and a select specialty pharmacies. Highmark members, group customers and the plan have collectively saved over $6 million since the lower-cost version of abiraterone acetate first became available in September of 2023. The portfolio of lower-cost medications available through CivicaScript will continue to expand, with a focus on generic outpatient drugs that treat specialty and other chronic health conditions such as cancer and neurological disorders. We're also part of an initiative to dramatically lower out-of-pocket costs for insulin with CivicaRx. CivicaRx will manufacture and distribute insulins at significantly lower prices than insulins currently on the market, providing value to both insured and uninsured patients nationwide. Does the drug work? We are also working with fellow leading Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to curb rising prescription drug costs by improving transparency in the drug value chain, tracking the clinical and cost-effectiveness of medications, and forming innovative partnerships with manufacturers and other stakeholders. If people take prescription medication, we want it to be safe and effective. The real-world evidence that we receive on the effectiveness of prescription drugs helps us to ensure that we are providing value to our clients and members. There's no panacea for rising prescription drug costs, but Highmark will continue to put members and clients first through innovation, partnerships and real-world evidence. For more information, click here.
Business Journals
10-06-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
How Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield delivers pharmacy value for clients, members
With the rising cost of prescription drugs, companies across the country are faced with challenging decisions to balance affordability and access for their employees. From specialty medications that are life-changing but carry a six or seven figure price tag, to generic medications that become scarce and spike in price, there's no shortage of pharmacy-related pressures for employers who already face an uncertain economy. At Highmark, more than a third of our overall health care spend is now allocated to pharmacy costs. And, of that pharmacy-related spend, about half of it is on specialty medications that typically treat chronic, complex health conditions associated with high costs. To best serve our clients and members, we have forged partnerships and launched innovative programs that boost prescription drug affordability and adherence. And we also follow the real-world evidence of how effective a medication is to ensure we're delivering value. Specialty pharmacy innovation Highmark is working with a healthcare technology company, Free Market Health, to provide streamlined access to prescription drugs for Highmark members with complex health conditions, from specialty pharmacies equipped to provide high-quality care management. We're utilizing Free Market Health's platform, which matches specialty medication referrals and pharmacies in real time while balancing the cost and value of care. Patients are benefitting, with a reduction in drug abandonment and a reduction in claims costs for medications, benefiting members and group customers. We also leverage the Free Market Health platform to incentivize specialty pharmacies serving some of our most medically complex members to administer social determinants of health assessments and identify individuals facing additional challenges. Identified members are referred to a Highmark social worker to address their Social Determinates of Health (SDOH) concerns. Lowering generic drug costs We have seen more essential generic outpatient medications become scarce or expensive in recent years, creating barriers to better health. These shortages and price spikes create additional stress and financial strain for consumers. When it became time to develop a national response, Highmark stepped up and has continued to play an important role in CivicaScript, a new non-profit drug company dedicated to bringing quality and affordable outpatient generic medications to market. Highmark members are saving money on their generic oral oncology medication prescriptions through Highmark's leading role in CivicaScript. Members taking abiraterone acetate, which is used to treat prostate cancer, are saving an average of $90 per month in out-of-pocket expenses for the medication through Highmark's role with CivicaScript and a select specialty pharmacies. Highmark members, group customers and the plan have collectively saved over $6 million since the lower-cost version of abiraterone acetate first became available in September of 2023. The portfolio of lower-cost medications available through CivicaScript will continue to expand, with a focus on generic outpatient drugs that treat specialty and other chronic health conditions such as cancer and neurological disorders. We're also part of an initiative to dramatically lower out-of-pocket costs for insulin with CivicaRx. CivicaRx will manufacture and distribute insulins at significantly lower prices than insulins currently on the market, providing value to both insured and uninsured patients nationwide. Does the drug work? We are also working with fellow leading Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to curb rising prescription drug costs by improving transparency in the drug value chain, tracking the clinical and cost-effectiveness of medications, and forming innovative partnerships with manufacturers and other stakeholders. If people take prescription medication, we want it to be safe and effective. The real-world evidence that we receive on the effectiveness of prescription drugs helps us to ensure that we are providing value to our clients and members. There's no panacea for rising prescription drug costs, but Highmark will continue to put members and clients first through innovation, partnerships and real-world evidence.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Light up the night: when, where you can watch Erie's annual fireworks show
The vibrant eruption of color and thundering sound returns to the the skies over Presque Isle Bay on July Joe Schember announced on June 5 that the city's annual Lights Over Lake Erie fireworks display returns to Dobbins Landing one day before the July 4 holiday. The fireworks show, presented once again by Pyrotecnico Fireworks of New Castle, will begin at 10 p.m. 'We are grateful that we can continue this tradition,' Schember said, noting that the event is co-sponsored by Highmark and the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority. The event is funded in part by a $15,000 events grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.'We know how much these fireworks mean to the community,' said Julie Slomski, the Port Authority's executive director. As is the case annually, residents and visitors can view the fireworks from various vantage points along Erie's waterfront, including the east and west bayfront bluffs and Bayview Park near East Second and Cherry streets; Presque Isle State Park; from a boat in Presque Isle Bay, or from almost anywhere that provides a view of the Bicentennial Tower. Gabi Watson, the city's events manager, said Dobbins Landing and the lower State Street area will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event. The Erie Parking Authority will provide free parking at select downtown parking garages for those attending the fireworks. That includes the garages near West Seventh/West Eighth and Peach streets and East Eighth and French streets. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority will run free shuttle buses to/from downtown areas near those garages, Watson said. More information is available at Citizens can also check the city's Facebook page for updates. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie fireworks: City releases 2025 schedule of events
