United Healthcare announced yesterday that it will add 175 positions to its Maryland Heights, Missouri call center. The company has repositioned the call center to accept calls from physicians instead of insurance holders.

"As a guy who's in St. Louis and from the area, I'm just pleased we made the decision to put this here and add to our already large presence," said Steve Walli, president and CEO of United Healthcare of the Midwest. "We've had great success in this location. We have a pool of applicants who are educated and motivated; it just made sense."

Other domestic and foreign call centers had previously handled physician calls. The new hires will join United's existing Maryland Heights work force of 170 employees.

United Healthcare of the Midwest employs 1,000 people locally, and more than 2,000 throughout Missouri.