Some elected officials from Western Pennsylvania believe UPMC is monopolizing healthcare in the region.
In a white paper released by the American Economic Liberties Project, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) and State Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny County) say UPMC's dominance has led to lower wages, limited opportunities for workers and unsafe working conditions.
"UPMC's monopoly powers have gone too damn far," said Lee.
According to the report, UPMC is the largest non-government employer in the state. They employ over 92,000 workers.
Lee and Innamorato believe the lack of competition in local healthcare can can lead to lapses in patient care.
"[UPMC is] the poster child for this imbalance," Innamorato said. "They are aggressively anti-competitive, anti-union and resistant to outside input."
Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, UPMC nurse Katie Trombetta says worker treatment has forced many of her colleagues to look at other options, including travel nursing jobs, which can often pay more than hospital jobs.
"UPMC is well aware of this workforce staffing crisis, yet they aren't doing the things that would help to fix it, like giving nurses a voice in decisions, safe staffing and better pay."
In a news conference Thursday, they called on other elected leaders to join them in confronting UPMC.
"The recommendations in our white paper fall into three broad categories: directly reining in anti-competitive tactics, ensuring workers have a voice and removing barriers to seeking better work and making sure UPMC lives up to its obligations as a non-profit," said Pat Garofalo with the American Economic Liberties Project.
UPMC has not responded to News Radio KDKA's request for comment.