HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Health insurance giant Highmark Inc. received conditional approval Monday from Pennsylvania regulators to take over the financially troubled West Penn Allegheny Health System as part of its plan to compete with UPMC, western Pennsylvania’s dominant network, for patients and their health care dollars.

The takeover is a landmark transaction, said Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner, Michael Consedine, and proponents of the deal hope it will slow the growth of health care costs and improve health care in western Pennsylvania.