The Visiting Nurse Service of New York has announced plans to cut 775 jobs, citing significant and ongoing changes to the home and community-based health care system happening under Obamacare.
The not-for-profit home care organization’s planned layoff will represent a 4% reduction in its workforce, according to Crain’s New York Business. Eliminated positions include both clinical and administrative staff, although less than 3% of the VSNY’s total clinical workforce will be laid off.
“This is a difficult and necessary action, and we fully recognize the impact it will have on our dedicated and loyal workers,” VNSNY said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the organization said it has a responsibility to taxpayers and public sector partners “to reduce costs while continuing to meet our 121-year old mission to preserve and strengthen the health care safety net for New York’s most vulnerable.”
In October 2013, the VNSNY cut 570 positions in a separate round of layoffs as it sought to restructure its corporate office.
For the current layoffs, the home care agency said changes to the health care system under the Affordable Care Act are to blame, including a state overhaul of its Medicaid program by shifting to a managed-care, rather than fee-for-service, model.
The cuts are “a direct result of the significant, ongoing changes to home and community-based health care dictated by both federal and state reform,” it said.
Read more at Crain’s.
Written by Alyssa Gerace