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Press Release: TriWest Healthcare Alliance to open new hub location in Kansas City and create 500 new jobs, Gov. Nixon announces

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today joined local elected officials and company leaders from TriWest Healthcare Alliance to announce 500 new jobs for the Kansas City area. TriWest, a company that provides health care services to veterans and military families, will open a new Health Care Administrative Service Center in Missouri to serve customers locally and in the Midwest.

“As a military proud state with a skilled workforce, balanced budgets and a business-friendly climate, Missouri is pleased to welcome TriWest Healthcare and 500 new jobs to Kansas City,” said Gov. Nixon. “This announcement is terrific news for families in the region who will benefit from these new jobs as well as veterans who will benefit from greater access to quality health care services.”

As a partner to the Department of Veterans Affairs, TriWest administers the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) and Veterans Choice Program (VCP) in 28 states. Through these programs, the company provides veterans with coordinated and timely access to quality health care.

As a result of the significant increase in health care requests through the VCP program, which allows customers to seek care in their communities to avoid delays or long travel distances to VA medical hospitals, the company is enhancing its service capacity. Kansas City’s central location, talented workforce, and commitment to the VA’s Veterans Economic Communities Initiative attributed to the company’s decision to expand in Missouri.

“We are pleased to have selected Kansas City as we expand our footprint and create new jobs to serve our nation’s veterans,” said David J. McIntyre Jr., President and CEO of TriWest. “One of the reasons we selected Kansas City is the strong support of community leaders to increase economic opportunities for veterans, and we are proud to be coming here, where we will ultimately be serving the veterans who call the Midwest home.”

Founded in 1996, TriWest has a workforce of more than 1,600 with operations in Arizona, Washington, Hawaii, and now, Missouri. TriWest’s multi-million dollar expansion in Kansas City will create hundreds of jobs in the region including patient service representatives and nurses. The company has already started recruiting and filled a quarter of its positions, with several being held by veterans living in the area. The company anticipates its 64,000-square-foot center to be fully operational this September.

“Kansas City’s role as a leading city of the Great Plains has made it attractive to talented, innovative people and the companies for which they work,” Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Sly James said. “It is more than a pleasure to welcome TriWest Healthcare Alliance. It is a special privilege for Kansas City to be a key service center location for a company serving military veterans.”

“We are honored to welcome TriWest Healthcare Alliance to the KC metro,” said Bob Marcusse, President and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. “The organization’s service to our military veterans is important and admirable. They are a welcome addition to our regional business community.”

TriWest vows to actively recruit veterans for the new positions and has since taken the Show-Me Heroes pledge, a program that connects businesses with military men and women when they return home from service. Since the Governor launched the program in 2010, 4,441 employers have hired 7,671 veterans. According to the Missouri Veterans Commission, Missouri is home to more than 494,000 veterans.

During his visit to TriWest today, Gov. Nixon presented McIntyre with the Flag of Freedom, recognizing the company’s hiring of veterans. The Flag of Freedom Award consists of a plaque featuring an American flag patch from the combat uniform of a member of the Missouri National Guard worn while that Citizen-Soldier or Airman was deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Since 2005, the company also has had a small operation in Fort Leonard Wood to assist in patient appointment services at the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. TriWest employs 10 workers at this location and anticipates bidding on additional military opportunities once the contract for appointment services ends later this year.

To assist TriWest with its expansion in Kansas City, the Missouri Department of Economic Development has offered a strategic economic incentive package that the company can receive if it meets strict job creation and investment criteria. A number of partnering agencies also are assisting with the company’s expansion, including but not limited to the Kansas City Area Development Council, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Missouri Partnership, Platte County Economic Development Council, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, and KCP&L.