Pittsburgh, PA - Highmark, formerly Western Pennsylvania Blue Cross Blue Shield, has commissioned Edgeworth, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based human-capital consulting firm, to design a program that will teach Highmark employees the fundamentals of the health insurance business. This effort will include understanding the negative effect of marginal group business on profitability, the need to control administrative expenses and the changing nature of the business in an increasingly competitive market.

The program will be presented to Highmark's senior managers and then rolled out through the organization by Highmark trainers who will also have been trained by Edgeworth.

Highmark, an $8 billion organization, sees the Edgeworth program as one of its many efforts to educate its employees on the need to focus on creating value within the organization.

About Highmark
Highmark, formed in 1996 through the consolidation of Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield, is one of the largest insurers in the nation, and a leader in customer service, innovative health promotion programs and quality assurance.