I took this from another forum I read, check this out:
From: St John News
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 2:00 PM
To: St John Health System All
Subject: Important Message regarding Cost Restructuring
Dear Associate:
The St. John Health System, similar to many healthcare organizations across the country, is experiencing significant change. Common themes in this new environment include lack of public funding, a fluctuating and uncertain economic climate and a decrease in the number of patients seeking some of our healthcare services.
We face the reality that Oklahoma’s decision not to participate in Medicaid expansion (or some other publicly funded program) will result in significantly lower payments from government sources for the services we provide. It also means the already high number of uninsured Oklahomans will not be reduced.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is designed to offer health coverage for uninsured citizens by expanding each state’s Medicaid program. Oklahoma opted out of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. This will make Oklahoma a donor state, with the money generated from reduced Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals going to other states’ Medicaid expansion rather than helping 150,000 to 180,000 Oklahomans gain access to health insurance. The anticipated impact of this statewide decision to St. John is expected to be a loss of up to $20 million annually in Medicaid reimbursement for the service we provide. In addition, ACA Medicare payment cuts, combined with additional federal sequestration cuts, means the health system will receive up to $15 million less in Medicare payments next year.
Tulsa hospitals already provide more than $175 million in uncompensated care each year. The St. John Health System alone accounts for approximately $60 million of that total. With Medicare cuts already in place, and no Medicaid or other expansion of coverage on its way, St. John and other Oklahoma hospitals and physicians are faced with less revenue, but the same number of uninsured patients.
Adding to this difficult environment is the potential that Insure Oklahoma, which provides affordable state and federally funded healthcare to employers and individuals, will not be renewed. This could significantly increase the number of uninsured Oklahomans.
As good stewards in ensuring the health system’s success in the coming years, we must face our economic realities and take measures to proactively address this situation now. Over the next three weeks, we will implement a plan to strategically restructure the workforce, resulting in position eliminations of approximately 2 to 3 percent of our associates by the end of June. This unfortunate but necessary step is required to reset staffing at appropriate levels based on our current and anticipated rates of patient utilization and reimbursement.
Coming to this conclusion has not been easy. We recognize that a workforce restructuring of this nature will negatively affect the lives of many of our friends and colleagues. To minimize the impact, any eligible associates whose positions are eliminated will receive a competitive severance package. This will include severance pay, benefit continuation during the severance period, and priority placement when applying for open positions within the health system.
Overcoming obstacles in an uncertain future is challenging, and requires steadfast commitment from all of you. Thank you for your continued commitment to preserving the long-term viability of the St. John Health System.
I will keep closely connected with you as we move forward.
Regards,
David J. Pynn
President and Chief Executive Officer
St. John Health System
In addition, to this email. My wife has been approached by a nursing manager 'strongly encouraging' her to sign a petition supporting ACA to be sent to the Oklahoma Governor.
When my wife refused, her immediate supervisor was questioned about my wife's performance and her personal life. Including our political affiliations.
This is mother fucking Marxist bullshit.
