Blue Cross cuts staff by 7 percent. (Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania)

Early retirement program eliminates 260 positions

DOWNTOWN - The Blues have gotten a little smaller.

Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, the region's dominant insurer, said 260 employees, or 7.2 percent of its 3,600-member work force, accepted an early retirement package, effective Dec. 1.

The voluntary program was offered to 350 eligible employees who had from Sept. 25 through Nov. 8 to accept or decline the offer.

Blue Cross confirmed that one of those who accepted the package was Dean Eckenrode, senior vice president of provider reimbursement and one of the company's more public spokesmen on issues regarding its transition to managed care. …