We’re already seen the effect of businesses cutting employee hours, and heard the screams from unions about the unfairness of the subsidies under ObamaCare, which they helped pass. We have read that doctors are planning to retire by the thousands rather than cave to socialized medicine even though the AMA pushed for its passage. We’re read that ObamaCare is threatening to penalize hospitals that treat “charity” patients. But it gets worse. Even if you find a doctor willing to accept the reduced benefits that Socialized Health Insurance provides, you may not have access to a hospital.
Hospitals are slashing jobs and cutting patient services citing Medicare cuts, the difficult health care landscape, and ObamaCare as reasons behind their decision according to the Washington Free Beacon. Over a dozen hospitals have announced job cuts, just in September. Some hospitals announced they would close altogether, while others are downsizing and eliminating some of their services.
Connecticut’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital announced it was cutting 33 jobs, citing the “sheer magnitude” of payment cuts from both Medicare and Medicaid. Arnot Health announced 83 full-time employees at St. Joseph’s in New York will be laid off, the hospital will be closing certain units, and some services will be eliminated beginning Sept. 23.
NorthShore University Health System in Illinois announced it was laying off 1 percent of its workforce at its four hospitals to better position itself for changes that will result from Obamacare. Mission Health Hospital in North Carolina announced it will layoff 70 employees, reduce the compensation of officers by 13 to 26 percent, cut employer contributions to defined plans and will not issue merit raises in 2014.
NorthShore-Long Island Jewish Health System spokesman Terry Lynam said changing demographics in the community such as aging residents and a lack of growth in population were factors in the decision to reduce the number of beds at Glen Cove. Radiology, labs, and physical therapy will be transferred out of the hospital and offered at Vidant Medical Group physician practices. A new clinic will be built that offers multispecialty care, but there will be no inpatient care.
Western Connecticut Health Network cut 116 jobs, and St. Vincent’s Medical Center cut 100 jobs. The Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Maryland announced 43 positions would be eliminated, as would be its Transitional Care Unit. The unit stopped accepting patients on Sept. 6, said Christopher C. Hall, vice president of strategy and business development, in an email.
Other recent hospital layoffs have taken place at Indian River Medical Center in Florida, Baptist Memorial in Tennessee, Cortland Medical Center in New York, and Bethesda Health in Florida. St. Louis health care provider ConnectCare also announced it is cutting half of its staff.
The Cleveland Clinic, ranked as one of the best hospitals in America, announced that it is reducing its payroll in response to ObamaCare. “We need to further reduce costs to by $330 million in 2014”, by offering early retirement to 3,000 eligible employees, reducing operational costs, stricter review of filing vacant positions and reducing the workforce.
Inova Health Systems in Northern Virginia axed 147 jobs across its five hospital system. St. Vincent’s Medical Center eliminated 100 positions resulting in the loss of 48 jobs which included nurses and physician positions. California Palomar Health is laying off 84 workers and Tri City Medical Center in California laid off 3% of their workforce. Pasco, Washington-based Lourdes Health plans to lay off between 50 to 80 employees and close the Obstetrics department.
St. Joseph’s Regional in Idaho is cutting 47 positions. Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick, Maine laid of 16 employees. Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, Massachusetts is closing an inpatient orthopedic floor and laying off the employees.
Sally Pipes, a health care expert at the Pacific Research Institute says that we’re going to see a lot more reduction in labor because of ObamaCare. Not only is the government further cutting Medicare patient reimbursement, it is also increasing the number of people receiving insurance from the government, further cutting into hospital profits. And, “this is just the tip of the iceberg for those kinds of cuts coming down the pipes.”
