A Missouri Hospital Association survey revealed that roughly 1,000 full-time equivalent positions have been reduced and an additional 2,145 positions were put on a hiring freeze in the last six months in the state's hospitals.
The workforce cuts can be tied to reduced payments from the federal government: Between 2013 and 2019, Missouri hospitals will experience a nearly $4 billion reduction in payments. Additionally, charity care provided by hospitals in the state increased 32 percent from 2010 to 2012.
In addition to laying off employees and freezing hiring, hospitals — especially those in rural areas — are responding to the reduced payments by putting off renovations or building repairs.
Cuts to services are also expected, the survey found. Hospitals plan to reduce services in areas such as home health and hospice, satellite clinics, wound care, hospital-provided ambulance services and oncology, among others.
MHA officials urged lawmakers to reform Medicaid to prevent further layoffs and service reductions. "Medicaid reform matters," Herb B. Kuhn, president and CEO of MHA, said in a news release. "Without it, financial constraints will continue to limit hospitals' ability to deliver services to Missouri communities and support local economies. What this data demonstrates is the damage is already occurring."
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