Reps. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver) and Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny)cosponsored legislation that would force health care providers to accept health insurance from any willing insurer. House Bills 1621 and 1622, also known as the “Assuring Patient Access and Consumer Choice Act,” doesn’t name specific providers. But it is a legislative method to end the UPMC vs. Highmark battle and SEIU Healthcare PA has thrown their support behind it.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) earlier announced that it would not renew a contract with Highmark, after Highmark purchased West Penn Allegheny Health Network in a merged system now called Allegheny Health Network. UPMC also provides health insurance, and when Highmark purchases West Penn, they will be competitors as health care providers and as health insurers. UPMC decided to deny Highmark insurance to be used in their massive Western PA network.

The battle royale between UPMC and Highmark has given SEIU even more ammunition in its fight to unionize UPMC nurses. And this week, the labor organization is lobbying in favor of the Christiana-Frankel bills.

SEIU Healthcare PA has launched a website with testimonials from Pittsburgh nurses to advocate for the Christiana and Frankel legislation, Rep. Frankel expressed his happiness with the nurses’ support.

“This current crisis in contract negotiations highlights a serious problem with the provision of medical care in our area,” said Rep. Frankel. “We need to stop treating patients like market share and recognize that they are vulnerable people in need of a critical service. Nurses know that better than anyone.”

“As a nurse, I believe all of my patients deserve high-quality care – not just those with the ‘right’ insurance plan,” said Theresa Brown, who has worked as a nurse in Pittsburgh for six years. “That’s why I’m speaking out and standing with elected officials working to guarantee health care access to all Pennsylvanians.”