Ozarks Community Hospital in Springfield, Mo., will lay off 200 employees as the organization closes its surgery and emergency departments, according to a Springfield News-Leader report.
Here are three things to know about the layoffs.
1. OCH blames the layoffs on a federal government decision. Hospital CEO Paul Taylor said in a memo that CMS has "published notice that it is terminating our Medicare agreement because we do not satisfy the federal definition of a hospital," according to the report. CMS confirmed to the Springfield News-Leader that the decision was made. Mr. Taylor plans to appeal CMS' decision.
2. The hospital will no longer admit to the inpatient unit, effective immediately, and plans to close its surgery and emergency departments July 29.
3. An OCH spokeswoman told the Springfield News-Leader Springfield clinics —including the OCH Medical Offices Clinic, OCH Primary Care Clinic and OCH Northside Behavioral Medicine Clinic — will continue to operate as usual, along with the OCH Evergreen Clinic.