In Centre County, an emergency court order has been issued in a dispute between two well-known healthcare providers.
The ongoing legal dispute is between Highmark Inc. and Geisinger Health, specifically Geisinger’s Healthplex State College outpatient surgery center, formerly known as Geisinger Grays Woods.
Highmark claims Geisinger broke an agreement between the two with a note sent last month from a Geisinger executive saying Geisinger Healthplex State College would be “out of network” for surgical procedures, effective August 1st, for those covered by Highmark commercial health benefits.
Highmark says many employees at Penn State for instance, have in-network access for outpatient surgeries at the Geisinger clinic.
Highmark estimates 35 of its commercial coverage members have surgical procedures done each month at the Geisinger clinic.
In Centre County court, Highmark filed for an emergency injunction, claiming Geisinger’s actions are causing confusion in the marketplace.
Last week, a judge issued an order saying the two parties must refrain from terminating or claiming to terminate their previous agreement before November 1st of this year.
