Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled on Friday that Pittsburgh-based UPMC can stop accepting Highmark Health insured patients by the end of the month.

I’d like to take a moment to clarify a question involving health insurance plans accepted at UPMC Pinnacle surrounding the recent developments in the relationship between UPMC and Highmark in Western Pennsylvania.

UPMC and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro are heading back to court in their battle over a consent decree requiring the Pittsburgh-based health network to take patients insured by Highmark Health.

In arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday, an attorney for UPMC said it is not possible to extend a consent decree between the health system and insurer Highmark, despite efforts to make the agreement last longer.

Highmark this week laid off 239 employees, including 74 at its operation on Center Street in East Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County.

After losing a round in Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is appealing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court over his bid to extend a consent decree governing the relationship between UPMC and Highmark.