Highmark Health's IT business eliminates 40 positions, including 25 in Pittsburgh

Highmark Health’s information technology division axed 40 positions on Thursday, including 25 in Pittsburgh, officials said.

HM Health Solutions, which supports 13 Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans and nearly 10 million members in multiple states, eliminated the positions as part of staffing adjustments aimed at “the best long-term interest of our people and business,” spokeswoman Lynn Seay said.

“This decision, while difficult, impacts a small segment of our workforce and is designed to better align to our strategy,” Seay said in a statement.

The axed positions represent about 1.2 percent of the payroll of HM Health Solutions, which employs about 3,280 employees, including more than 1,700 in Pittsburgh.

HM Health Solutions is part of Highmark Health, which employs more than 40,000.

Last year demonstrated “historic growth for HMHS in platform development and project work supporting its clients,” said Seay, “and while 2019 is on pace to be another year of significant investments, we must adjust headcount to meet our ongoing business needs.”

“We continually assess the skills and capabilities within our workforce to ensure we appropriately staff departments to meet the needs and delivery expectations of our customers,” Seay said.

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NewsNatasha.