Medicaid cuts costing hospitals more jobs

With state budgets cutting Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, hospitals big and small are feeling the effects of the lost funds.

To make up for the reductions, large hospital chains in Texas are eliminating jobs, reports The Tennessean. For example, Vanguard Health Systems has had to downsize it five-hospital system in San Antonio, laying off 118 workers.

Nashville-based HCA, with more than 20 facilities statewide, said the Medicaid cuts could cost the hospital chain almost $80 million on an annualized basis, according to the article.

Similarly in Washington state, an expected $2.3 million drop in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements has led to job cuts at PMH Medical Center. According to that figure, PMH would lose about 44 percent of the money it gets from the federal programs, reports the Tri-City Herald.

"What's happened is we know statewide and federal reimbursements are going to be cut," said PMH spokesman Fred Lamb. "We may as well start adopting some changes now. ... Nothing is going to be left off the table."

Earlier this month, hospitals in California took a stand against double-digit Medicaid cuts and filed suit against both the federal and state governments.

To learn more:
- read the Tennessean article
- here's the Tri-City Herald article
- read the News Tribune article