Prudential to Realign Services

In an effort to consolidate some California operations, Prudential HealthCare said Friday that it will open a regional service center in the Los Angeles area that will employ about 1,400 people by early 1998.

The health-care division of Prudential Insurance Co. of America, based in Roseland, N.J., said the center will handle customer relations, billing and claims services that are now divided among five California cities: San Diego, San Mateo, Simi Valley, Stockton and Woodland Hills. Those sites now employ about 1,300 people.

Jeff Kamil, president of Prudential’s health-care operations in California, said it’s uncertain how many jobs will be created, but the division’s growth and the number of employees willing to transfer to a new place will be factors. He said several Los Angeles County locations are being considered.

“The extremely competitive health-care industry requires that we make this move,” Kamil said.

Besides eliminating overlapping operations, the move will allow the firm to upgrade its information technology and respond more quickly to customers, he said. The changes will be phased in during the next year to 18 months, the company said.

Offices in Woodland Hills and San Mateo will be the first to close. Prudential HealthCare, based in Woodland Hills, operates managed-care insurance plans that serve about 500,000 Californians.