New West Health Services says it is laying off 15 people after the insurance company was broken up as part of a federal antitrust case.
The Independent Record reports the company cut nine employees in Helena and six in Kalispell after its commercial health insurance business was sold to PacificSource Health Plans last month.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana took over the policies of New West’s 10,600 hospital employees in a $26.3 million deal that led authorities to say the agreement threatened competition. A settlement called for New West to sell its commercial business.
New West is now focused solely on selling Medicare Advantage. The company says it will have 70 employees after the cuts, with 38 in Helena, 31 in Kalispell and one in Billings.