Highmark Blue Shield out of Pittsburgh is stepping up efforts to take on Independence Blue Cross as it sets up operations in southeastern Pennsylvania, writes John George for Philadelphia Business Journal. 

Highmark has named Dan Tropeano, a Villanova University graduate as its first southeastern Pennsylvania segment president.

Tropeano was most recently senior vice president and general manager for OptumRX, a UnitedHealth subsidiary.

Highmark hopes to be a “full-fledged” insurer in the Philadelphia region over the next several years.

Independence Blue Cross now dominates the region’s health insurance market, with 2.6 million   commercial, Medicare and Medicaid members.

Highmark has 1.1 million members statewide. Its number of Philadelphia region customers was not immediately available.  

Its new strategy is a result of a multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement last year involving 34 independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies.

 “At Highmark Blue Shield, we’ve historically been a statewide company and the only Blue Shield licensee in Pennsylvania,” Tom Fitzpatrick, the company’s senior vice president for commercial business, said in a statement. “We’re building on that work and expanding our existing relationships to deliver better health outcomes and value to all stakeholders across the commonwealth.”

Read more about Highmark expanding into the Philadelphia region at Philadelphia Business Journal.

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