Elevance Health is laying off 216 employees in Louisiana as part of the wind-down of its Medicaid business in the state.
The layoffs are set to take effect by the end of the year at the insurer’s Metairie office, according to a regulatory notice filed with the state Sept. 15.
The cuts come as Louisiana’s Medicaid contract with Healthy Blue, a joint venture between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and Elevance, is set to expire at the end of the year. More than 290,000 Medicaid members currently enrolled in Healthy Blue will need to select one of the state’s four remaining managed care plans during a special enrollment period running Oct. 15 to Nov. 16.
“Since 2012, it has been our privilege to serve Louisiana Medicaid members, and since 2017, to serve Medicaid and Medicare Dual Eligible members through Healthy Blue Louisiana in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana,” a spokesperson for Elevance said in a statement. “Our focus remains on serving Medicaid members through December 31, 2026.”
In July, Elevance disclosed plans to cut 85 jobs in Washington, D.C. as part of its exit from the district’s Medicaid program, with the insurer signaling additional Medicaid pullbacks over the next 12 to 18 months.
Louisiana’s Medicaid contract with UnitedHealthcare also expired earlier this year on March 31.
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