Highmark Health announces 12 layoffs in Buffalo operations

Kyle Rogers, director of corporate communications for Highmark Western New York and Northeastern New York, said the layoffs, effective April 26, were in the supplier relations and supplier operations sector of the company based in Pittsburgh.

“We have employed and continue to employ dozens of team members who support our healthcare providers, helping them understand our members’ health and insurance plans, benefits and coverage, as well as the reimbursement associated with it,” Rogers said. .

“This is due to more automation and less manual intervention needed to serve healthcare providers. We’ve seen an increased use of self-service tools for healthcare providers that allow them to obtain healthcare information in a truly efficient and intuitive way without requiring a manual response. to that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rogers said, Highmark has hired 1,343 associates so far this year, including some for other positions based in Western New York. The layoffs follow the elimination of 182 jobs in March, including 15 in Western New York.

Rogers said Highmark observed a three-year commitment to maintaining a no-layoff policy after finalizing its affiliation with HealthNow New York, which brought the company to the Western New York and Albany. This was a requirement when New York state regulators approved the affiliation in late February 2021.

Meanwhile, Rogers said there was no real connection between the layoffs and Highmark’s move of its Buffalo offices from West Genesee Street to the Seneca One tower.

“These are actually two separate topics. Rather, the move to Seneca One is part of a longer-term commitment to maintaining a strong local workforce,” he said.