Press Releases

Highmark Launches New High Performing Networks in northeastern Pennsylvania

• Local employers can offer access to high-performing doctors and hospitals with lower costs

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (December 18, 2020) — Highmark has launched two new high-performing networks in Pennsylvania that will help employers in the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania offer workers access to the best local doctors and hospitals at the lowest cost.

Known as Performance Blue and Performance Flex Blue, the high-performing networks are focused on delivering quality care and lowering cost through strong relationships with local providers such as, but not limited to, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization and Commonwealth Health who are participating in Highmark’s value-based care initiatives.

Those value-based care initiatives include the True Performance program, which has achieved more than $1 billion in avoided cost savings while also improving outcomes for members. Highmark’s claims data for years 2017, 2018 and 2019 has shown that the program has helped to avoid a total of $1.09 billion in health care costs from Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions. 

Primary Care Physicians, specialists, and hospitals in the Performance Blue and Performance Flex Blue networks have met clinical measures for patient care and also offer significant potential to close gaps in healthcare, improve outcomes, and holistically address how effective care should be provided to patients.

“Due to the strengths of our relationships with Lehigh Valley Health Network and other providers participating in our value-based care initiatives, coupled with our data collection and market experience, we are able to provide even greater value to employers in the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania and across the state with Performance Blue and Performance Flex Blue,” said John Lufburrow, regional vice president of Sales for Highmark. “As employers continue to face challenges related to the pandemic, Performance Blue and Performance Flex Blue offer options to provide employees with access to great care locally with lower costs.”

Performance Flex Blue will offer PPO and PPO Qualified High Deductible plans, as well as an EPO and EPO Qualified High Deductible plans as a tiered benefit design. It is available for self-insured and fully insured large employer groups beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Performance Blue will also offer PPO, PPO Qualified High Deductible plans, EPO and EPO Qualified High Deductible plans for self- and fully insured large employer groups, but with a more select network of doctors and hospitals.

Highmark has also announced that it will be participating in a new national network of higher quality providers who deliver better and more affordable care called Blue High Performance Network (Blue HPN). Starting Jan. 1, 2021, more than 185 million Americans in more than 55 major markets will have access to Blue HPN across the country.