Local Congress members challenging UPMC, saying it has monopoly powers

PITTSBURGH — Across Allegheny County hospitals, 67% of all employees and 60% of all beds are at UPMC facilities.

That’s according to a new report from the American Economic Liberties Project.

In Pittsburgh, the report states, UPMC employs 76 percent of all hospital employees and controls 71% of all hospital beds.

“UPMC’s monopoly powers have gone too damn far,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. She and State Representative Sara Innamorato are teaming up with AELP to challenge UPMC in hopes of bringing change.

They believe the healthcare chain is too big and does not face enough competition.

“UPMC controls three out of four hospital jobs and uses that power to dictate working standards and pay for that entire market,” said Pat Garofalo, AELP’s Director of State and Local Policy.

According to the report, UPMC employs 92,000 workers and is the largest non-governmental employer in the state.

AELP alleges that most of them are not allowed to unionize, which allows the healthcare provider to keep wages low and working conditions unfavorable while many hospitals are short-staffed.

“I can’t underscore enough how greatly the staffing crisis hurts the people entrusted to our care,” said Katie Trombetta, a nurse at UPMC Presbyterian.

AELP also believes UPMC’s hospital market share allows the company to drive up patient prices.

“Hospital leaders have prioritized expansion and profits, creating a workforce crisis that we face today,” said Innamorato. “The root problem is the imbalance of power between our hospitals and workers, patients, and the community. UPMC is the poster child for this imbalance.”

The AELP report also takes issue with UPMC acting as a health insurer.

It says that can also limit where patients are able to get care.

AELP, Lee, and Innamorato are calling on lawmakers at the state, local, and federal levels to enact new laws that protect the rights of hospital workers and patients while creating new competition in the healthcare landscape.

“We have the power to stand up for our hospital workers and our patients,” said Lee.

11 News reached out to UPMC about the report. The healthcare company says the report is based on “basic data and erroneous statistical analyses that have been reported in the past and thoroughly debunked.”

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