26 April 2013 (18:57 UTC-07 Tango 25 April 2013)/15 Jumada t-Tania 1434/06 Ordibehest 1391/17 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
I got outraged today, when I heard the PBS Nightly Business Report anchor say (once again) that U.S. healthcare related jobs are recession proof. That’s a lie!
The following are job losses, healthcare related company bankruptcies and shut downs that were publicized by regional media sources from 04 January 2013 to 25 February 2013, just under two months worth, read and weep:
The Visiting Nurse Association in Texas laid off 400 personnel! Company officials say they’ve been losing money at an accelerating pace for the past three years. Last year they lost $2.46 million, and they blame it on changes to state and federal government funding. (thank you Obama/Romney Care?)
Liberty Medical laid off at least 260 people in Florida! Liberty filed for bankruptcy protection after Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began seizing their revenue. Medicare/Medicaid says Liberty Medical has been ripping off the taxpayers.
California’s Accuracy radiotherapy devices maker is laying off 13% of its global workforce, mostly in the United States. Company officials said they need to save $40 million USD per year.
Nonprofit Henry Lee Willis Center closed in February. Massachusetts state taxpayer funding ended, 158 jobs lost.
Northview Senior Living Center in Johnstown, Ohio. Zandex Health Care Corporation owns Johnstown’s only nursing home, and says it is closing due to ongoing legal battles with the zoning commission. 65 jobs lost.
Catholic Social Service Center at Holy Cross Church Campus in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Church officials say they are trying to cut costs by merging social service centers.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to lay off 45 upper management employees. DHEC officials said the layoffs could be offset by hiring 68 people, but at much lower pay.
Hospice of Siouxland, in Iowa, laid off 28 people. They blame rule changes to taxpayer funding for Medicare and Medicaid (aka Obama/Romney Care).
In Las Vegas, Nevada, Saint Rose Dominican Hospitals laid off 100 people. Hospital officials blame reduced payments from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies (Obama/Romney Care).
Just in time for the increase in crazy (False Flag) mass killings, nonprofit Columbia River Mental Health Services, in Washington state, laid off 16 employees. They blame lack of funding.
Cumberland Valley District Health Department, in Kentucky, laid off 14 people. They blame lack of funding.
The Orleans Community Health hospital, in Medina, New York, is laying off or cutting the hours of 25 people. Hospital officials blamed federal government cuts in Medicaid and Medicare (Obama/Romney Care).
Ohio‘s Lorain County Children Services to layoff 14 employees. Blame lack of government funding.
Kinetic Concepts hospital bed factory being closed in San Antonio, Texas. 95 people out-o-work. The move comes after the company was taken over by Swiss company Getinge Group. The new Swiss owners are moving production to Poland and China.
Zimmer Spine closing its Austin, Texas, operations. About 100 employees affected. Moving to Minnesota and Tennessee.
The nonprofit Delaware Hospice in Wilmington, Delaware, let go 52 employees. They blame a reduction in federal Medicaid and Medicare payments.
Planned Parenthood in Tusla, Oklahoma, closed after the State Department of Health terminated its WIC contract.
Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals will lay off employees around the world. They have operations in New Jersey, and already canceled a $300 million project in Pennsylvania.
Faxton Saint Luke’s Healthcare, in New York, laid off ten employees and will not fill 27 vacant positions. They blame cuts to federal Medicaid and Medicare programs (Obama/Romney Care).
In the midst of viral outbreaks and epidemics, American Esoteric Laboratories laid off 65 people in Memphis, Tennessee. The company provides doctors and hospitals with lab services. Company officials said the layoffs are the result of a drastic change in how payments for lab services are being reimbursed (Obama/Romney Care).
Saint Louis, Missouri‘s, Express Scripts laid off 332 people across the U.S.! This come after the country’s largest pharmacy benefits manager spent $29.1 billion USD to take over Medco. 103 former Medco employees have so far been let go as well!
The New Castle Youth Development Center closing in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. 223 jobs lost! Some officials say the center for troubled youths saw a huge decline in juveniles being housed there, with only 31 currently staying in the 100 bed facility (at one time there were 250 beds at the juvi jail). State Representative, Jaret Gibbons, said it was all part of the governor’s conspiracy to close down publicly funded prisons, possibly to make way for private for profit prisons.
Windber Medical Center in Pennsylvania closing its obstetrician wing in March. Hospital officials said they’re having such a hard time finding replacements for the four obstetricians who’re leaving, that they just decided to close down the obstetrician wing!
Conifer Health Solutions closing its Alpharetta, Georgia, call center. About 90 people out-o-work. The Texas based health care revenue outsourcing company is consolidating operations with other call centers.
Despite North Dakota‘s booming oil industry, Sanford Health shut down its Underwood Continuing Care Center. It’s the result of last year’s merger between Sanford Health and Medcenter. 38 residents, and 62 employees affected!
Standard Insurance company to cut at least 100 jobs across the United States. Basically the company is expecting to lose money this year, and is trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Massachusetts closed down its detox unit. About 24 staff affected. Hospital officials say they’re changing the way they handle certain types of addictions, which will render the detox unit unnecessary.
Laurel Hill Healthcare closing its nursing home in Connecticut. It’s part of the growing nursing home closings due to parent company Spectrum Healthcare’s bankruptcy.
Fairview Clinics-Chaska, in Minnesota, closing down and moving to a new location. They blame it on a drastic reduction in customers seeking health care.
Nonprofit Baltimore Behavioral Health goes bankrupt because of $5 million in debt. However, in 2010 an investigative reporter discovered that the nonprofit was overcharging Medicaid, with the excess payments going to the family that controlled the mental health service (you see it’s not the people who need the help that’re ripping off social programs, it’s the service providers). By the middle of 2012 all the family members were removed from the board of directors. Also, in 2011 Bank of America sued saying the clinic was not making the payments (default) on a $2.5 million worth of loans. The result is that the people who need the help are not going to get it.
The maker of a new blood test that identifies anti-biotic resistant staph now bankrupt. Colorado’s MicroPhage claims to have too much debt, yet SEC filings show the company just made a deal with the biggest medical distributor in the country, to distribute its new staph test. Also, the filings revealed a $6 million investment from a single investor.
A controversial brain injury treatment center now bankrupt. The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation is wracked with problems, from investigations over patient abuse (one claim says caregivers forced patients to fight each other, just like in those for profit corporate prisons) to tens of millions of U.S. dollars in unpaid debt.
Learning Ally, a non-profit that helps people with learning disabilities, ended its Charlottesville, Virginia, operation. It’s one of eight learning centers they will close down. Company officials blame financial problems.
Med-Aid Pharmacy in Mission, Texas, is closed down. They blame changes in Medicaid reimbursements (Obama/Romney Care).
144 people were told they will be out-o-work at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans! Michigan state officials are trying to save $4 million dollars by switching to contracted work, and they claim quality of care will not go down. That claim is disputed by a recent University of Michigan study.
Summa Health System laid off 54 employees in Ohio. They blame lower than expected revenue due to the Obama-Romney health care reforms!
In Minnesota, North Memorial Health Care laid off an undisclosed number of employees at the North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. Officials blame decreased admissions and revenue.
The Calhoun County Hospital in Arlington, Georgia, laid off 29 staff. They blame the unstable financial situation of the hospital.
Glendale Memorial Hospital, in California, said they laid off employees because of the increased number of patients who can’t pay.
This comes after California’s Glendale Adventist Medical Center laid off 21 staff, blaming it on the Obama-Romney health care reforms!
In New York, health insurance company MVP Health Care laid off 68 employees. Company officials said it’s their way of addressing “administrative expense”. Last year they laid off dozens of people, and forced dozens more into early retirement.
Medical records manager, Athenahealth, laid off 36 people in Birmingham, Alabama. No reason was made public.
In New York, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic laid off 58 people: “Like many hospitals across the State of New York, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic is preparing for the Affordable Care Act. [Obama/Romney Care]”-Lewis Zulick, President & CEO of the hospital
In Fresno, California, Saint Agnes Medical Center laid off 75 employees. Hospital officials said it was necessary to stay within operating costs.
In Massachusetts, 12 people lost their jobs at the Holyoke Health Center. Hospital officials admit they no longer have the money to keep them employed: “The Health Center does not have the resources to maintain positions that are not covered by contracts, grants or third party reimbursements.”-Jay Brienes, Executive Director
In Gunter, Texas, Christian Care Centers is closing down their Hilltop Haven nursing home. It’s all about the money: “We were unable to find a sustainable financial model for Hilltop.”-Teresa Scott, senior vice president
In Massachusetts, Boston Scientific will layoff 1000 employees around the world! This is on top of the 1400 planned layoffs announced in 2011. Company officials blame the additional layoffs on new medical taxes coming into effect under the Obama/Romney health care reforms.
In Wisconsin, non-profit WPS Heath Insurance said they are laid off 451 employees! The company was founded in 1946. Company officials said the layoffs are the result of the loss of Medicare and Tricare contracts (Obama/Romney Care).
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii laid off 47 nurses. They are being replaced with cheaper “practical nurses” and “assistants”. So much for a high level of training, this is proof that corporations only care about how cheaply they can pay you, not how skilled you are!
New Hamshire’s Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene hospital eliminated 34 jobs. They’re trying to save $1 million USD, due to declining revenue and decreasing state and federal reimbursements (Obama/Romney Care).
More lay offs for Illinois. Abbott Laboratories let go an undisclosed amount of employees. The global health care company already laid off 700 people last year. The company is “restructuring”.
Bridgeway Center, in Florida, ended all inpatient services! The health care provider blames ridiculously low state reimbursements. Company officials say it costs them $516.58 per bed to operate the facility, but the state pays only $293.24 per bed. The result is that their Crisis Stabilization Unit is shorted $3573.44 every day! The problem is that state legislators have not adjusted their payments since 1993! Bridgeway Center says Florida ranks 49th for the number of low income people without insurance, and 49th for state funding of mental health care.
Ohio based supplier of drugs and medical supplies, Cardinal Health, to layoff 180 people by June! Company officials say they are trying to anticipate future supply demands and price expectations of customers (meaning they think both will come down).
In California, biopharmaceutical company Amgen laid off 157 employees! Last year the drugs company laid off 400 people! Company officials basically gave the same reason for the layoffs as Cardinal Health.
Pennsylvania based AmerisourceBergen closed down its New Jersey pharmaceutical distribution warehouse. At least 72 people out-o-work. Company officials refused to give a reason why. The company did recently renew a contract with nursing home pharmacy PharMerica. However, AmerisourceBergen is being investigated for possible kickbacks in several states, and facing a class action lawsuit by stockholders.
In Oakland, California, the Children’s Hospital & Research Center closed its Cytogenetics Laboratory. They say the amount of work the lab did dropped by 69% in the past two years!
Also in California, San Diego Hospice now bankrupt. The largest hospice care provider in the Golden State owes millions in debt, and has been under a federal investigation for making fraudulent reimbursement claims for the past two years.
In Florida, Universal Health Care Group now bankrupt. Two of the company’s subdivisions are in receivership. Recently New Jersey based health insurer, Care Point, won an auction to take over Universal Health. The $33.25 million USD take over bid must be approved by state regulators. Universal Health Care has been accused of financial fraud by the Florida Insurance Commissioner, and even state regulators in Ohio and Georgia expressed concern over the company’s seemingly intentional financial mismanagement. The company employes at least a thousand people across the country.
In Kentucky, the Knox County Hospital closing down its Long Term Care Facility. Officials say it is losing more than one million dollars per year!
The maker of scooters and power chairs, The Scooter Store, cut production and laid of 150 employees! They laid off 220 people back in September 2012! Company officials blame new regulations in the Obama/Romney Care reforms.
In New York, the Sister Rene’ Dental Center shut down. Operators blame the reduced federal reimbursements under Obama/Romney Care. The overwhelming majority of their patients are on Medicare.
In Arizona, the Douglas Hospital bankrupt. Federal court will decide who will take over operations. Also, the Southeast Arizona Medical Center bankrupt. A new company will take over operations. The old company was millions in debt. Hospital officials say nothing will change regarding employees and hospital operations (famous last words).
In Ohio, the Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center laying off employees and closing departments. Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care reforms. Also, Akron General Medical Center warned 132 employees that layoffs are coming! Officials there blamed a combination of decreased revenues and Obama/Romney Care: “The external pressures being placed on us, and really all hospitals across the country, are extraordinary.“-Tim Stover, Akron General Health System
In Iowa, Keokuk Area Hospital laid off 24 people, blaming it on long term debts.
It’s been revealed that a major drug maker, Pfizer, has laid off more people than it officially announced two years ago. It turns out that the pharmaceutical company laid off 250 more people at its Groton laboratories, than first stated! Also, in San Diego, California, Pfizer shut down its CovX operation. 100 people out-o-work! Basically Pfizer decided the CovX operation wasn’t worth it.
In Wisconsin, the Lutheran Social Services is closing seven of its care centers by the end of April! At least 44 employees will become unemployed. Church officials said it was because they are not making enough money to support their operations.
In California, another hospital in trouble. Mendocino Coast District Hospital laid off 20 employees. The hospital went bankrupt last year. Hospital officials say they’ve already lost $1.9 million for the first six months of the fiscal year!
In Washington, the Spokane Public Health Clinic closed down. District officials said they were short $275000 USD.
The Mayo Clinic closing its Healthy Living store in the Mall of America, in Minnesota. They did not want to renew the lease.
In New York, Lakeside Hospital laying off at least 120 employees! The hospital is being restructured.
In Oregon, the Silverton Hospital laid off nine employees in their new cath lab: “People aren’t really using cath labs anymore because there are really good medications you can take, or insurance are now requiring that a patient take those medications prior to having a stent or going to the cath lab.”
In Maine, Franklin Memorial Hospital laid off 40 employees. They blame it on the fact the hospital is losing money.
Texas based Advanced Living Technologies bankrupt. The non-profit nursing facility operator is in big debt.
In Vermont, Grace Cottage Hospital laid off 15 employees. Hospital officials blame the Obama/Romney Care cuts in Medicaid/Medicare payments.
Corcoran District Hospital laid off 19 employees. The hospital is losing money due to a huge drop in patients from the California State Prison Corcoran and Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility.
In Louisiana, the Allen Parish Hospital closing down its ER. Officials say the hospital has been losing a lot of money in the past six months, because of a huge decline in people coming in for treatment.
Connecticut nursing home operator, HealthBridge Management, now bankrupt. Company officials are hoping the bankruptcy will break the unionized employees, after the company lost a federal court case over labor laws violations.
In Pennsylvania, the Carlisle Regional Medical Center laid off an undisclosed amount of employees, including the director of marketing. Some reports say it has to do with a recent “serious event” (clinical care of a patient in a medical facility that results in death or compromises patient safety), which the Department of Health says the hospital failed to make the required notification to the state. Two days after the announced layoffs the state Department of Labor and Industry said the hospital failed to file a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification).
McLaren Bay Region Hospital in Michigan, fired 35 Licensed Practical Nurses. The hospital will replace them with Registered Nurses.