© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Military Health Contractor In Kansas City Furloughs Nearly 200 Workers

TriWest Alliance Healthcare serves the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Patient-Centered Community Care program, which provides veterans access to civilian health care when VA care isn’t available.
Julie Denesha
/
KCUR 89.3
TriWest Alliance Healthcare serves the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Patient-Centered Community Care program, which provides veterans access to civilian health care when VA care isn’t available.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Patient-Centered Community Care program, which provides veterans access to civilian health care when VA care isn’t available.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide private-sector health care for veterans, is furloughing 191 workers in Kansas City and laying off another 17.

The Phoenix-based company said it anticipates the furloughs will last less than six months but could last longer.

“Due to the economic impact of COVID-19 … TriWest is implementing measures to ensure the financial stability of the Company,” TriWest said in a letter addressed to Missouri’s Office of Workforce Development and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

The notification letter under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) said the pandemic has affected the company’s business “significantly.”

Although the letter was dated May 1, it said the furloughs began on April 20.

Of the 191 employees being furloughed, 137 are patient services representatives. The 17 workers laid off were also patient services representatives.

The furloughed and laid off employees worked at the company’s offices at 1480 N.W. Vivion Road.

The company serves the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Patient-Centered Community Care program, which provides veterans access to civilian health care when VA care isn’t available.

TriWest did not respond to a request for comment.

Dan Margolies has been a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, and KCUR Public Radio. He retired as a reporter in December 2022 after a 37-year journalism career.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.