AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT UCI HEALTH

Orange, California-based UCI Health, a nonprofit, fully integrated healthcare delivery system operating several regional hospitals and clinics, and affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, has announced a system-wide restructuring resulting in a 1% reduction in force.

The restructuring will impact 150 employees, including those in operational, administrative, and support roles.

According to a spokesperson, “Like healthcare systems across California and nationally, UCI Health is operating in a changing environment that includes shifts in federal funding, reimbursement pressures, and rising operational costs. This restructuring reflects both the need to adapt to those external factors and to align our organization with evolving community demand. As healthcare needs evolve, we are realigning how we operate to expand access, strengthen key services, and support our academic health system. This allows us to deliver the right care, in the right setting, at the right time — today and into the future.”

"The restructuring and layoffs are not concentrated in one location. The roles affected span multiple areas of the organization as part of a systemwide realignment of how work is structured to better support patient and community needs. Patient care remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to maintain continuity, access and quality across all care sites.”

President and CEO Chad Lefteris noted, “We approach this moment with respect and care, feeling deeply grateful for our co-workers’ vital contributions to our community and those we serve. We recognize that change impacts all of our co-workers. But this realignment is vital to ensuring our ability to continue meeting the evolving needs of the communities we serve.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT HAZEL HEALTH

San Francisco, California-based Hazel Health, a provider of school-targeted telehealth services, including pediatric mental and physical health care to K-12 students, has announced a second round of layoffs.

The personnel adjustment will impact 135 employees, about half of whom are clinicians. This follows a previous 11% staff reduction in October 2025.

According to CEO Iyah Romm, "The current way of operating isn’t financially or operationally sustainable. We are burning too much money today to meet our sustainability goals, and it’s not close. No matter how hard we push our transformation efforts, we won’t get there fast enough.”

"Every bit of energy at Hazel is going to focus on three foundational capabilities: (1) increasing the number of kids we serve and making the referral process easier; (2) making it way more efficient to get care; and (3) ensuring that we get paid for the care we deliver, while actively working to take the pressure OFF of schools to fund mental health and to place it with the health insurers responsible for that care. We haven’t met our commitments to partners with the consistency I expect.” This will prompt further changes on client engagement and clinical fronts."

"You showed up every day to help kids and families get the care they need, and I am deeply grateful for that work. You did nothing wrong. And I’m sorry.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY

Newark, New Jersey-based Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a not-for-profit, tax-paying health service corporation offering the only licensed Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan in New Jersey, has announced a company restructuring with a 5% reduction in force

The reduction will affect 242 employees, effective April 26, 2026.

According to a company spokesperson, "Horizon is facing unprecedented financial challenges due largely to higher medical costs and utilization across all lines of business. Over the past three years we have taken proactive steps to control rising healthcare costs, including reducing our own operating costs by $275 million. Nonetheless, our current cost structure is simply not sustainable in this environment and we have a responsibility to our customers and members to ensure the long-term financial strength of the company. We do not take workforce reductions lightly. Employees whose positions were eliminated were treated with fairness and respect and will receive a generous separation package.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?