UMMC faces unexpected $35M cut, possible layoffs - Jerry Mitchell , The Clarion-Ledger

Employees at the University of Mississippi Medical Center face possible layoffs after the teaching hospital received an unexpected $35 million reduction in Medicaid funding. That reduction came after state lawmakers had already sliced $8.2 million from the budget of the medical center — a $1.6 billion operation that employs more than 10,000 people. The $35 million cut to UMMC, the state’s largest Medicaid provider, came as a result of a change in a state Medicaid formula to compensate hospitals that serve large numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients. Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, said the setback could mean layoffs, the elimination of programs and other cuts. “Everything is on the table,” she said. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/23/ummc-faces-unexpected-35-million-reduction-possible-layoffs-after-change-in-medicaid-formula/98301174/