Emory University Hospital is cutting 100 jobs and blaming it on Obamacare.

[Tim4319]

According to WSB channel 2 in Atlanta, Emory University Hospital is cutting 100 jobs all due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.



Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that more than 100 Emory Healthcare employees will lose their jobs, in part, because of the Affordable Care Act.

An upset viewer alerted Channel 2's Erica Byfield to the development.

A letter the viewer provided from Emory Healthcare's Chief Human Resources Officer reads, "This notice is to inform you that Emory Healthcare is restructuring and consolidating its Psychiatry Services Program."

A spokesperson from the health system confirmed the letter was mailed to 101 employees on Sept. 9.

The letter goes on to say leaders decided to close a neuropsychiatry unit at Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital (WWGH) and consolidate two psychiatry units one of which is at WWGH and the other is within the Center for Rehabilitation Medicine for Emory University.

The furious employee asked not to be identified, but the employee did write a letter.

In part, it reads, "The saddest part is when during the announcement we were told our job loss is due to the new Affordable Care Act."




http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/emory-healthcare-cut-100-jobs-partly-because-obama/nZw5N/

[Quantess]

1. Question: is this just a scapegoat excuse,

or is there any reason why it could be a justifiable reason? I do not understnd how ACA could negatively affect a psych ward.

[Scuba]

8. How can it be anything but a scapegoat? Obamacare will increase patient loads ...

... not decrease them.

[SheilaT]

2. One of the things I would want to know is what kind of raises

has the senior administrative staff gotten in recent years? And everyone else?

[Tanuki]

3. Georgia, like many red states, has refused to participate in the ACA's Medicaid expansion.

This is having a devastating effect on safety net hospitals that provide a disproportionate amount of free care. I don't know the specifics of the hospital in the OP, but it is in all likelihood similar to the situation at Atlanta's Grady Memorial as discussed in the Washington Post recently. If so, it is the Republican legislature's refusal to take advantage of the benefits of ACA, in stead of ACA per se.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/26/this-georgia-hospital-shows-why-rejecting-medicaid-isnt-easy/

[mnhtnbb]

4. This is BS. Cutting psychiatry services has been a favorite of Repukes since Ronnie was governor

in California.

Just another round of Repukes not giving a shit about mental health care.

[gopiscrap]

5. Every fucking employer who doesn't want to face his employees when he lets them go

is going to blame Obama

[patricia92243]

6. With more people insured and therefore going to doctors,clinics, etc, I thought there would a need

for more doctors, nurses, technicians - that Obamacare would be a real job creator. I don't understand laying off people when there will have more patients.

[frustrated_lefty]

7. Hospitals are planning a transition

into telemedicine and other intermediate forms of "care" to minimize unnecessary face-to-face time with the clinician.

[CatWoman]

10. HA!! Emory just got busted

Emory University pays $1.5M to settle False Claims Act case

Emory University will pay $1.5 million to settle claims it billed Medicare and Medicaid for cancer clinical trial services not allowed under Medicare and Medicaid rules.

About $70,000 of the settlement will go to Georgia.

The United States and Georgia alleged Emory billed Medicare and Medicaid for services the clinical trial sponsor agreed to pay and, in some cases actually did pay, resulting in Emory getting paid twice for the same service.

The case came about from a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Elizabeth Elliot, a former research finance manager at Emory. She will get $322,500 of the settlement, plus $11,250 for wrongful termination claims.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and Attorney General Sam Olens said claims settled are allegations only and there was no determination of liability.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/08/28/emory-university-pays-15m-to-settle.html

[Tim4319]

15. Wow, that does make sense!

[davidpdx]

17. That money probably could have saved a majority of the jobs for a year

Pure stupidity or a mistake who knows? The government is right to go after anyone who defrauds Medicare and Medcaid.

[b.durruti]

11. Whoever gave that reason LIED. ~nt~

[eppur_se_muova]

14. ^^^^^OF COURSE THEY DID !! ^^^^^

Stupid-ass reporters can't see what's going on here ? Probably threw in their lot with the R's already.

[Tim4319]

16. It's like the media don't even want to report the facts.

[bigwillq]

12. What is the government doing to prevent this? (nt)

[NV Whino]

13. My local hospital just layed off its department heads

They are now outsourcing middle management. They blamed it on Obamacare.

As near as I can figure, this saves them pension and health coverage costs. They will still be paying salaries of equal (or more) to the exterior company who will provide departmental management. And no, they didn't lay off any of their eight Vice Presidents.