Many Ohio hospitals planning layoffs in next six months, association reports

A survey by the Ohio Hospital Association has found that at least 35 hospitals in Ohio report plans to lay off employees in the next six months  (Source: “Survey: Nearly three dozen Ohio hospitals have layoff plans,” MedCity News, April 2, 2009).

OHA sent the survey to all 174 hospitals that are members of the organization and 110 returned the survey.

In the survey, The association asked “How many [full-time employees] does your hospital plan to lay off/not replace over the next 6 months?”  About one-third indicated “definite plans for layoffs,” association spokeswoman Tiffany Himmelreich said.  The association did not release the names of specific hospitals that planned layoffs.

According to the OHA, the state’s hospitals are struggling with the cost of uncompensated care, which is increasing in the current economic environment. The association also has warned that a new fee  proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland would cost hospitals $598 million over the next two years.