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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212;The new big blue in healthcare is making its presence known in downtown Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield began the two-day process of changing signage on its pair of North Main Street facilities Tuesday morning, starting with the building located at the corner of Union Street.</p><p>Spokesman Anthony Matrisciano said the changes are &#8220;emblematic&#8221; of the transition process which has been ongoing since a merger in June joined Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh-based Highmark Inc.</p><p>The company employs more than 4,700 people in Northeastern and Western Pennsylvania and serves a customer base of more than 3 million.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve said from the beginning, since we announced our intent to merge that this is going to benefit consumers,&#8221; Matrisciano said.</p><p>Highmark brings with it new resources and &#8220;opportunities to save at the administrative level,&#8221; he said.</p><p>While products available to consumers remain largely the same for the time being, Matrisciano said customers can expect positive changes in the future.</p><p>Internal operations have not yet seen much change either, he said, adding that the merger agreement maintains employment levels in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Employees, however, could be shifted depending on business needs, he said.</p><p>In testimony before Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consadine last November, BC NEPA President Denise Cesare said the merger deal included a promise by Highmark that &#8220;for a period of 18 months all of the employees with the organization for one year prior to approval (of the merger) are protected.&#8221;</p><p>Matrisciano said drilling issues were impeding the sign change&#8217;s progress early Tuesday, but expected the project would be completed by day&#8217;s end.</p><p>Crews are slated to begin work Thursday to change signage outside the 19 N. Main Street facility.</p><p>The giant blue cross adorning the building&#8217;s rooftop will remain a while, though, as changes to the logo are not expected to begin until fall.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ted Morris and Mike Nally of MAC Sign Co. in Scranton work to put up the new Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield sign on one of their building on North Main St in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday afternoon.  Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL080515Highmark.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ted Morris and Mike Nally of MAC Sign Co. in Scranton work to put up the new Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield sign on one of their building on North Main St in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday afternoon.  Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Highmark Blue Cross begins changing signage of Main Street buildings