According to a recent news release from the company, UnitedHealthcare, will have new job openings for 2012 and expect to hire 335 new employees during the year. The new jobs, says the company, are part of an “expansion to support growth of innovative programs for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions.”
Currently, UnitedHealthcare has more than 2,700 employees in the State of Maryland. Through its health care network consisting of 65 hospitals and over 10,000 doctors and health care professionals, UnitedHealthcare currently serves more than 780,000 residents of the state.
The job openings will be split between the company’s existing offices in Baltimore and a new location in Elkridge, MD and come on the heels of the company’s acquisition of XLHealth. XLHealth was a provider of Medicare Advantage health plans focused on underserved and chronically ill beneficiaries in the area.
“UnitedHealthcare is committed to Baltimore as an employer and business partner, and we welcome the opportunity to become more engaged in the region’s growth,” said President and CEO of UnitedHealth Group Stephen J. Hemsley. “By increasing our workforce in Maryland, we can expand our chronic care management capabilities and deliver new services that will help Medicare beneficiaries in Maryland and across the country live healthier lives.”
During an announcement ceremony, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said, “Maryland has a longstanding history as a leader in health care innovation, and we are pleased that UnitedHealthcare is creating jobs in our state and helping us uphold this tradition. ” O’Malley continued, “Maryland ranks No. 1 in entrepreneurship and innovation according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and UnitedHealthcare’s investment affirms that this is an attractive place for businesses to expand. Public-private partnerships between the federal government, state government and local business can and will drive health care innovation and better quality care for the nation’s Medicare beneficiaries.”
The company indicated that the bulk of the new jobs (250) will enable UnitedHealthcare to expand its HouseCalls program, a unique clinical service that assesses the health condition of Medicare beneficiaries with complex health needs and identifies gaps in their care. The remaining (85) new jobs will support a pharmacist counseling program designed to help UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members take their medications as prescribed.
Individuals looking for work with health care or customer service experience are encouraged to apply online at http://www.xlhealth.com/jobs/default.aspx.