IBC and Highmark Agree to Merge
According to a March 28, 2006 Press Release, the boards of directors of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) have agreed to merge. The new company will continue to have dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and is expected to generate more than $1 billion in savings over a six year period, but whether providers or benficiaries will see any part of those savings is unknown. Of course, if the merger goes through, the administrative difficulties that physicians now face in dealing with either Highmark or IBC are likely to get considerably worse before they get better.
