health care mergers continue: highmark takes over blue cross of NE PA, LVH merges with Pocono
The health care mergers continue. Highmark just took over Blue Cross of NE Pa. Lehigh Valley Health Network has taken over Pocono Medical Center. Penn Medicine has merged with Lancaster General Hospital. Abington and Jefferson Health systems have merged. Penn State's Milton Hershey Medical Center has merged with Pinnacle Health. Penn State Health has taken over St. Joseph's Medical Center. Each of these health systems were the result of previous mergers of multiple hospitals. Geissinger Health has taken over a few hospitals in NE PA, and is now working to expand their health insurance into additional parts of PA. etc. etc.
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2015/05/05/glenside_news_globe_times_chronicle/news/doc55494786e1e2a555540500.txt
A couple decades, most doctors in group practices, which they owned themselves. Now, a vast majority are employees of huge health systems.
Soon, there will be only a few health insurance companies and only a few health care conglomerates in PA.