Highmark cuts 15 jobs in Western New York as part of larger companywide reduction

Highmark Western and Northeastern New York spokesperson Kyle Rogers said the 15 affected Western New York-based positions represent about 1% of the health plan’s local workforce of just under 1,400.

“Highmark is committed to maintaining a strong local workforce and remains the only unionized health plan in Western New York,” Rogers said. “Our union workforce has grown 26% over the past three years.”

The local job cuts come almost exactly three years after Highmark completed its affiliation with HealthNow New York, bringing the Pittsburgh-based organization to the Western New York and Albany markets. 

When New York State regulators signed off on the affiliation in late February 2021, the approval came with the requirements that almost no employees of HealthNow would be laid off for the next three years and that the organizations would spend at least $10 million – $2 million a year for five years – to improve racial and health inequities in the Buffalo and Albany markets.

In a statement about the recent cuts, Highmark said “change is not only constant but necessary” for the company to remain competitively positioned for future growth in an evolving industry. 

Highmark’s total workforce is more than 40,000 companywide, which means the 182 job cuts represent 0.5% of the company’s headcount. 

“We are actively transforming to meet the changing needs of members and our communities while maintaining financial strength and stability,” Highmark said, noting those changes mean reimagining and simplifying its operations.

“As we implement these difficult but necessary changes, Highmark Health will continue to invest strategically in growth and reinventing health to fulfill our mission of delivering a remarkable health experience,” the company said.