Sacred Heart Health System Cutting Up To 150 Jobs

June 5, 2013

Changes are underway at Sacred Heart Health System that could cost between 125 and 150 people their jobs.

About three percent of the hospital’s 5,000 employees will be laid off from facilities in Pensacola, Miramar Beach and Port St. Joe.  The layoffs are because the hospital is “facing daunting challenges because of a decline in revenues caused by government cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement” and a drop in admissions.

“To sustain our mission in the face of current trends, we must undertake a wide range of actions to reduce costs and restructure our system for the future,” Sacred Heart President and CEO Susan Davis said. “We are looking at all ways to reduce expenses and our plans include a reduction of supply costs and a reduction in the size of our workforce.”

Comments

13 Responses to “Sacred Heart Health System Cutting Up To 150 Jobs”

  1. Health care worker on June 7th, 2013 11:33 am

    This is happening at Baptist too! The health care cuts are real and they are going to be getting worse. Baptist has planned ahead and has warned its staff. They are trying to make cuts else where with letting staff go as a last resort. Cuts are just the first round of Obama care. The goal will be to give a hospital a lump sum and that’s it no matter how many patients they care for.

  2. eeyore on June 7th, 2013 3:29 am

    …well, welcome to “smaller” government! bet those who got caught up in the hysteria and listen to the scaremongers that these so-called businesses “rely” on the government for income to make their businesses “profitable”…many businesses that dont pay enough or provide health coverage rely on the government to cover the expenses they put into their “profitable businesses”…so, welcome to the world of “haves” and “not haves”…

  3. Dave on June 6th, 2013 11:36 am

    Pardon me, its 6 a year for everybody on medicare / medicaid. A letter was supposed to have been mailed out last year to inform recipients that as of 01-01-2013, they would only be allowed 6 visits a year. The problem is, most medicaid and even some medicare patients are seeking primary care from an ER more and more due to an increasing number of doctors no longer accepting medicare / medicaid due to Obamacare reducing the payments to doctors. Anyone who accepts a medicare or medicaid payment is required by them to consider the bill paid in full, meaning the doctors, hospitals, EMS… etc., lose money every time they accept payment. Last I heard, they only pay $75-$150 for an ambulance bill, which range from $500-$1000 depending upon what type of treatment is necessary. Thats a large write off. Kind of hard to stay in business. Doctors need to be in charge of healthcare, NOT the government. Watch “Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare”, major eye opener.

  4. Oh My... on June 6th, 2013 6:15 am

    @ Dave

    Is that 6 visits a year or from initiation of use of Medicare…age 65 or so?

  5. American on June 6th, 2013 12:20 am

    YES, Obamacare has begun implementation of many of its regulations and it will be a disaster, this is the tip of the iceberg!!!!

  6. Janice on June 5th, 2013 10:49 pm

    Dave — put so painfully well! SHHS just showed some
    True colors!

  7. Dave on June 5th, 2013 5:09 pm

    This does not have anything to do with the state rejection of federal funds, those go to the state to fund the state programs. This is mismanagement on Sacred’s part otherwise Baptist and West Florida would be doing the same. This has to with Sacred over treating when not warranted and not requiring payments up front for non life threatening treatments. Under ObamaCare, Medicare and Medicaid will only cover 6 ER visits and 6 ambulance trips. 6, that’s it. After that it is the sole responsibility of the patient.

  8. Henry Coe on June 5th, 2013 1:37 pm

    It has to do with Gov Scott turning down Federal money for Medicaid, according to another article I read and their quote of the Sacred Heart President and CEO Susan Davis.

  9. scott on June 5th, 2013 1:12 pm

    @ Frank

    You are clueless on this matter. Had our republican-led legislature accepted the federal healthcare law and not rejected it, there would be no such action by SHHS.

    The Florida Legislature rejected $BILLION$ in healthcare revenue because it was connected to President Obama.

    This is what happens to a state when we vote against our best interest.

  10. Sue Ellen on June 5th, 2013 8:21 am

    Obamacare hasn’t taken effect yet and has nothing to do with what’s going on at Sacred Heart. This is because the Florida Legislature refused to take federal money to expand the state’s Medicaid program. Gov. Scott wanted the money, but was stonewalled by the House and Senate.

  11. That STINKS on June 5th, 2013 8:00 am

    This really stinks!! I really hope that they give some people the choice of retiring rather than just laying them off…. Lord, please help all these people find new jobs quickly!!

  12. Frank on June 5th, 2013 7:38 am

    WELCOME TO OBAMA-CARE… Wait until 1-1-14, you have NOT seen the worst!

  13. margielu on June 5th, 2013 5:19 am

    Not good news at all, especially for the displaced employees. Godspeed to them in locating new employers!