I have noticed that since health care reform has taken place more and more hospitals are cutting staffing and laying off people. Just last week I heard about a hospital laying off many of their workers (some were nurses) due to Obamacare. They say it is because of Medicare reimbursements being down and this is hurting hospitals big time. Has your job been affected by Health Care Reform?
-Natalie
This question was asked in the nursing forum section.
M.J. says
Yes it is, no doubt about it. I have lost my part-time benefits because of it along with my PTO and 401k. My job now only offers benefits to full-time employee and they cite the reason is because the federal changes from the roll out of obamacare. Also, our hospital has had lay offs because of the decreased reimbursements and also because patient volume is down.
Patrick says
Yes health care reform is creating a mess right now in the health care system. Everyone and everything is being effected not only nurses. Doctors are majorly being effected in how they practice medicine. In turn, the patient numbers for outpatient testing/procedures is going down because insurance companies will not cover them. For example, there has been a great reduction in the number of heart caths, stress test, MRIs, and elective surgeries which has forced hospital to cut staff and re-organize. You have to remember that cardiac procedures and surgeries are a major money maker for hospitals and when that is reduced (patient numbers and reimbursement costs) we are talking a decrease of millions and millions of dollars to hospitals.