After Funding Cut, Layoffs For Exeter Hospital?

A top Exeter Hospital official said "multiple" cuts are being considered in the wake of a huge reduction to its Medicaid funding.

The Legislature's recent budget includes more than $200 million in cuts to Medicaid reimbursement for state hospitals. The move forced Manchester-based Elliot Hospital to slash more than 200 jobs, while Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Medical Center laid off about 100 employees.

Those hospitals -- along with Exeter Hospital and seven other Granite State hospitals -- in an attempt to have the funding restored.

In the interim, Mark Whitney, a vice president at Exeter Hospital, said multiple options are being considered to deal with the "crisis." Specific decisions could be made at the end of the summer.

Whitney said the measures will wreak havoc on the hospital's services.

"The options available to us all lead to significant negative impacts on the availability of services within our community for our patients," Whitney said in a statement. "As a result, we will not rush to implement any of those options. We have a responsibility to our patients, our community and our employees to be as prudent and thoughtful as possible in determining the appropriate response to this difficult situation."

Along with the Medicaid cuts, Exeter Hospital's finances have been negatively affected by a renegotiated contract with the Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield insurance provider. There's also the threat of Medicare cuts coming out of the national debt ceiling debate, Whitney said.

Whitney said at this point, the hospital is weighing its options.

"If we have any announcements to make about our plans the earliest we will make them will be the end of summer when we have a better sense of the likely outcome in our fight to stop these drastic cuts," he said.