ObamaCare job destruction, 4th quarter 2015: “The straw that broke the camel’s back…the Affordable Care Act…”

The following is an incomplete list of healthcare job cuts that took place, or were announced, from October to December 2015, and were directly or indirectly blamed on Obama Care (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

On 19 December 2015, during a televised presidential candidate debate Hillary Clinton admitted that skyrocketing health insurance, and health care costs, were the result of ObamaCare “glitches”!

Alabama: In Trussville, ObamaCare administrators have cut off funding for the Golden Living Center, forcing it to shutdown after New Year’s Day, at least 111 jobs lost!  Limestone Hospital eliminated 15 jobs after the county halted $1-million USD in taxpayer support!  Hospital administrators warned that could be the tip of the iceberg.   East Alabama Medical Center shutdown their baby birthing shop.

Arizona:  Tucson based Carondelet Health Network laid off 1-hundred people!  Non-profit Meritus Health Partners shutdown by ObamaCare, 59-thousand people will lose their promised healthcare insurance as a result!   

California:  In Rancho Cordova, medical device maker Volcano began another round of layoffs, 60 people now unemployed.  News reports said at one time there were almost 7-hundred Volcano employees, but estimates it’s now less than 1-hundred.  In Los Angeles, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center issued a layoff WARN, 57 jobs lost by February 2016.   Medical vascular care company Abbott Vascular shutdown their Redwood City ops, 144 people now jobless!  In San Jose, medical device maker Boston Scientific laid off 75 people.  In San Diego, Arena Pharmaceuticals eliminated 79 jobs.   In Los Angeles, Hersha Hospitality Management claimed it was shutting down temporarily.   Fireman’s Fund Insurance issued a layoff WARN for their Novato office, 73 jobs lost.

Colorado: Longmont’s Front Range Community College shutting down its nursing program!  For the 2017-18 school year the program is being consolidated to other campuses.  Datu Health shutdown their Boulder HQ, 42 jobs lost. 

Connecticut:  Hartford Health Care eliminating 120 jobs at Windham Hospital.  Evil drugs researcher Bristol-Myers Squibb laying off 78 employees between January and March 2016.  ObamaCare forcing the state to cut Medicare, which in turn forcing Day Kimball Healthcare to eliminate 23 jobs: “Once again, our organization has been dealt a severe financial blow from the state that has far-reaching repercussions. We have no choice but to be proactive in cutting costs…”-Robert Smanik, president and CEO

Florida:  Health insurance company Preferred Medical Plan issued a layoff WARN saying they lost so many customers that they must now eliminate 162 jobs in February 2016!   Dade Medical College shutdown all its campuses without warning, thousands of students and hundreds of employees out in the cold!  Affordable Care Act forcing ResCare to layoff 79 employees in Homestead.  Reports that Citrus Memorial Hospital eliminated jobs.    In Fort Lauderdale,  The Recovery Place laid off 125 healthcare workers !  In Miami Lakes, Outpatient Services laid off 28 healthcare workers.

Georgia:  After years of warnings, Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe finally shutdown.

Idaho:  Idaho’s version of ObamaCare has directly caused a death. Jenny Steinke died in Idaho Falls, her husband Jason had just gotten insurance, but it didn’t go into effect until 01 September, the very day Jenny suffocated to death due to her asthma.  Jason stated that ObamaCare is “just not affordable” and bemoaned his wife’s death “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”  Jason’s mother Cella describes Idaho’s version of ObamaCare as nothing more than “death by poverty.” 

Kaiser Family Foundation study says Idaho is one of dozens of states keeping low income people from affordable ObamaCare (called the Coverage Gap), and that it’s actually costing taxpayers more money as a result, saying the cost of healthcare in The Gem State went up 6.9%!

Lewiston’s non-profit Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center is up for sale.   A federal court has ordered the sale of Saltzer Medical Group.  Corrupt Boise based Saint Luke’s Health System took over Nampa based Saltzer, but a federal judge ruled the takeover violated anti-trust laws.  Saint Luke’s has 12 months to sell-off Saltzer.  The state Department of Health and Welfare is slashing Medicaid payments for in-home care of mentally disabled people.  Already, in-home care operation A New Leaf, in Meridian, is shutting down and eliminating 39 jobs as a result.  Many more in-home care operations will be shutdown as the draconian state ‘lawmakers’ want to warehouse disabled people in institutions.    The ObamaCare insurance exchange (Your Health Idaho) admitted that 78-thousand Idahoans (in a state with about 1.5-million people) whose low incomes (or sex; that fact they’re healthy low income adult males) won’t allow them to qualify for Idaho’s sexist Medicaid program!  And for 2016 Your Health Idaho is being cut loose from federal funding, which guarantees rates will go up.  And for more proof Idaho lawmaker’s version of ObamaCare is evil: “Students and their families are also facing steep increases in prices for policies offered on the state exchange, with average prices for a minimal coverage ‘bronze’ plan exceeding $200 per month.”-from staff report recently presented to Idaho Board of Education

Illinois:  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Hospital Sisters Health System to end inpatient healthcare services at Saint Mary’s Hospital, other services are being consolidated to other hospitals, 3-hundred jobs affected!   Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) medical device tax (and crashing profits) forcing medical device maker Baxter International to eliminate 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs!

Indiana:  Indianapolis based drugs pusher Eli Lilly announced it will charge $11-thousand 430 USD per month for its new cancer drug, so much for ObamaCare!

Iowa: Insurance company Transamerica warned of mass layoffs in 2016.  It’s part of their ongoing consolidation operations.  They’ve already consolidated 14 division into two, eventually there will be only one!

Kansas:  In Topeka, the non-profit health care Marian Clinic shutting down affecting at least 4-hundred low income patients.  Local news reports say the Shawnee County Health Agency is experiencing a steady increase in patient inquiries since the announcement that Marian Clinic was shutting down.  1-hundred years old (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Mercy Hospital shutdown,  administrators admitting they’ve lost a lot of money since Affordable Care Act went into effect.

Kentucky:    Louisville based healthcare provider Humana announced they will no longer accept patients under specific ObamaCare health plans, affecting at least 100-thousand people: “Operating results for the company’s individual commercial medical business continue to be challenged primarily due to the volatility related to the start of the healthcare exchange program created under the Affordable Care Act….”–Humana 3rd quarter financial report

Louisiana:   South Beauregard Health Center in Longville shutdown  blaming crashing patient volume caused by Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)! 

Massachusetts:  Baystate Health eliminating as many as 40 jobs and consolidating inpatient care, blaming ObamaCare. Partners HealthCare System shutdown their Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care North Shore, 3-hundred jobs lost! 

Michigan:   Detroit Medical Center reducing the number of its jobs by about 125!  Administrators blame ObamaCare for forcing them to “achieve efficiencies across our system”.  They laid of 127 people last year.  Health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield warned of massive layoffs across the state.  The insurance industry created ObamaCare is failing to rape-in the profits because smart and healthy ‘Mericans who don’t need health insurance know it’s a scam and are protesting with their wallets by refusing to sign up!  Blue Cross Blue Shield says as a result they must cut $300-million USD in Michigan jobs by 2018!  

Minnesota: In Austin, Riverland Community College joins the new trend of eliminating nursing programs and laid off six nursing instructors and halted the enrollment of new nursing students!  Administrators blame ObamaCare saying “We’re making changes in the curriculum so that our program is more reflective of the health industry today.” 

Mississippi: Merit Health Natchez laid off 13 people.

Montana: State ‘lawmakers’ are shutting down the Montana Developmental Center.  State representative Denise Hayman (who is opposed to shutting MDC down) says mentally handicapped patients are already being transferred to prisons!  

Nebraska: In Omaha, God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing Catholic Health Initiatives from eliminating 60 jobs. 

New Hampshire:  Valley Regional Hospital eliminated eight jobs in an effort to be “not quite break-even but…sustainable”.    Monadnock Community Hospital laid off six people and eliminated vacant jobs: “This is largely as a result of the changes in the Affordable Care Act, which really got into full swing in 2014.”-Laura Gingras, vice president of philanthropy and community relations

New Jersey:  Japan based drugs pusher Daiichi Sankyo issued a WARN saying 24 people will be laid off in February 2016.  Saint Mary’s General hospital laid off an undisclosed number of employees, blaming ObamaCare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) on greatly reducing overnight customers.  In West Orange, Barnabas Health laid off 7-hundred health industry workers!  The new California based owner of the Saint Clare’s Health System laid off 50 people. The new administrators blame it on “current volumes” caused by ObamaCare.  East Orange General Hospital now bankrupt busted despite its pending $84-million USD sale, 860 jobs threatened!  ObamaCare forced Bishop McCarthy Residence to eliminated 50 jobs.  In Pleasantville, ObamaCare forced Our Lady’s Residence to eliminated 50 jobs.  In Cherry Hill, ObamaCare forced Saint Mary’s Catholic Home to eliminated 50 jobs.

New York: The town of Hamburg eliminating 29 jobs and blaming it on ObamaCare!  ObamaCare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) resulted in jacking up healthcare costs for the city so much that the only way they can pay for it is to eliminate jobs!  After 57 years Slaterville Volunteer Ambulance Service shutdowndue to lack of volunteers.  Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) forcing EmblemHealth Services to issue a shutdown WARN for their NYC Claims Processing office, 101 jobs lost by February 2016!  In Rochester, Sweden based medical tech Getinge Sourcing announced 52 layoffs by January 2016.  The Jewish Board of Family and Children Services shutting down their Copiague Mental Health Clinic & PROS Possibilities program as well as their Central Islip Mental Health Clinic and ACT Program and their Hempstead Mental Health Clinic & Nassau County Care Coordination programs, at least 214 jobs lost!  County taxpayer funded Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center shutting down after Xmas, due to a potential buyer backing out of the $32-million USD sale.  4-hundred jobs lost!  Due to the pending shutdown of New York Presbyterian Hospital Family Medicine Center (in January 2016), Hunter Ambulette-Ambulance lost their contract, 113 jobs lost!  Is Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) behind Health Republic Insurance of New York shutdown?  147 jobs lost! 

North Carolina:   Rotech Healthcare conducted a second round of healthcare layoffs, 61 people laid off.  In the first round of layoffs 90 billing employees were let go.  Rotech’s Steve Burres directly blames Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).   Franklin Medical Center shutdown leaving the entire Franklin County without a hospital: “Despite an outstanding staff, investments in the facility, and a reconfiguration of hospital services last fall, we were unable to create a sustainable model.” 

Ohio:  Wheelchair maker Invacare conducted a second round of layoffs, this time 30 people were let go.  Back in August they laid off 150 people.   Lakewood Hospital Foundation shutdown their Thrifty Peddler resale shop, saying “circumstances change”.  And the Lakewood Hospital itself being shutdown in favor of a smaller clinic operation.  Mercy Health warned it will eliminate 24 jobs, blaming ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act) for “changing” healthcare.   Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act forcing Gallipolis based Holzer Health System to eliminate 1-hundred jobs in Ohio and West Virginia!  Administrators directly blamed ObamaCare saying it “resulted in dramatic change in healthcare service delivery models.”  They also stated that ObamaCare is actually doing the reverse of what it promised, it’s actually preventing people from getting healthcare!   Health insurance company Assurant shutting down their two years old Dayton call center, 150 jobs affected!  Two years ago the company promised to employ 2-hundred people, in anticipation of increased demand due to ObamaCare forcing people to buy health insurance, but guess what, it didn’t happen.

Oregon:   Yet another affordable insurance co-op shutting down, this time it’s non-profit Health Republic.  The forced shutdown will affect 8-hundred Oregon businesses and 15-thousand individuals! 

Pennsylvania:  Drugs pusher Philidor Rx Services finally revealed to state administrators that they shutdown, back on 23 November, 262 jobs lost!  Bemis Healthcare Packaging shutting down in January 2016, no job numbers given.   ObamaCare likely behind the job destruction at AmeriHealth Administrators.  They issued two mass layoff WARNs saying 476 Keystone State jobs (130 at Horsham & 346 at Fort Washington) are being lost as the company is moving elsewhere!  University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing shutting down by New Year’s Eve, 108 jobs lost!    After 101 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) the non-profit Mahanoy City Visiting Nurse Association killed off by skyrocketing costs and lack of donations.   Once again, God not as powerful as ObamaCare as Saint Joseph’s Hospital is shutting down, at least 675 people out of a job by March 2016!  Because of ObamaCare hospital services are being consolidated into fewer locations.

Rhode Island: Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it will eliminate 80 jobs over the next 17 months.  The health insurance company is joining the trend of contracting out its IT operations, ironically blaming ObamaCare (ironic because the health insurance industry created ObamaCare).

South Carolina: ObamaCare killing off yet another affordable insurance co-op, this time it’s non-profit Consumers’ Choice Health Insurance being forced to shutdown, leaving 67-thousand customers without affordable insurance!  Nason Medical Center shutdown all five  Lowcountry urgent care centers and laid off all remaining employees, saying “We thank you and wish you the best of success in your new positions wherever they may be.”

South Dakota:  Veterans Affairs wants to shutdown the Hot Springs VA Medical Center, 418 jobs lost by 2020!  Analysts say it’ll result in the regional economy losing $55-million per year!

Tennessee: Community Health Alliance being forced by state ObamaCare administrators to stop issuing health insurance, 148 jobs lost!   Hutcheson Medical Center laid off 70 more employees and eliminated the Chickamauga clinic, the Battlefield Lung Specialists, and the Multi-Family Practice Clinic on Battlefield Parkway and the intensive care unit! Local news reports say the hospital with 179 beds now has a “skeleton crew”, an employee said don’t waist your time going there because you’ll be sent to another hospital.   The entire Clay County School District shutdown due to lack of funding caused by the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare): “The straw that broke the camel’s back was really the Affordable Care Act for us and it has made it very difficult for us to have our employees properly covered and meet the mandates of the law. That was going to require new revenue and the commission felt like they couldn’t do that through a tax increase.”-Jerry Strong, director

Texas:  TAPS medical transportation in Wichita Falls shutdown.  In Fort Worth, Forest Park Medical Center chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale.   Bowie Memorial Hospital has ceased to exist after cash strapped taxpayers voted down a funding initiative.  138 hospital employees and another 336 ‘outside’ jobs lost!  

Vermont: Non-profit mental health service Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont laid off 12 employees.  Administrators said even with those layoffs they’ll be lucky to “break even” in 2016.

Washington:  After 126 years (surviving the great Depression and numerous recessions) Fairhaven Pharmacy shutdown, the owner Rob Johansen blamed ObamaCare saying “Financially it is almost impossible to run an independent pharmacy. It’s a frustrating field to be in right now.”   Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center warned of job cuts in 2016, “because we anticipate a short-term reduction in patient volumes” caused by Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).

Washington DC: More proof ObamaCare (Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act) is a big fail; yet again the cost of paying for healthcare went up, to a record $3-trillion USD in 2014!   For about 7-million U.S. citizens on Medicare part B their costs are expected to go up by 52% in 2016, for some their monthly payments will hit $509! 

Wisconsin: Cardiac Science now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, 190 jobs threatened!  The company has failed to make payments on $80-million USD of debt.  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Ministry Health Care from eliminating 5-hundred jobs from their hospital system!  Administrators say the Affordable Care Act does not cover the actual costs of providing healthcare!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

3rd quarter 2015:  “We just could not sustain it any more…”