HEALTHCARE
Lovelace Health System cuts dozens of roles, citing 鈥榗hallenging policy environment鈥�
Positions make up nearly 2% of the workforce and primarily consist of administrative, support roles
Lovelace Health System cut 43 employees from its workforce on Wednesday, citing increased costs and what officials describe as a 鈥渃hallenging policy environment.鈥�
A spokesperson said the eliminated positions make up nearly 2% of the local workforce and primarily consist of administrative and support roles. The decision was made to ensure the organization鈥檚 structure 鈥渒eeps pace with current realities,鈥� the spokesperson, Whitney Wells, wrote in an email.
Wells did not elaborate on the reason for the layoffs but said the move would not affect patient care. She said the health system is 鈥渟upporting affected team members through this transition,鈥� adding that Lovelace will place some affected staff into other open roles.
鈥淭hese are difficult decisions, and we don鈥檛 take them lightly,鈥� Wells said.
The Lovelace layoffs come just eight days after Presbyterian Healthcare Services, New Mexico鈥檚 largest health system, cut 150 administrative roles and most of its Medicare Advantage plans, which its CEO Rishi Sikka said would void about $59 million in annual losses. Presbyterian officials said the decision was made to preserve its status as an independent healthcare provider.
The cuts also follow a new four-year deal reached between Lovelace and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico in late May, which helped avert coverage disruption for thousands of patients just days before a previous agreement was set to expire.
Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.
