Exeter Hospital Cuts 75 Jobs

Exeter Hospital on Monday said it eliminated 75 jobs in response to soaring Medicaid taxes, among other factors.

The job cuts affected the hospital and its affiliate, Core Physicians.

Hospital spokeswoman Debra Vasapolli said most of the job cuts are comprised of 35 open positions.

"Scheduled hours were reduced for an additional 17 staff members, and the equivalent of 28 full-time employee positions were eliminated," Vasapolli said in a statement. "The reduction affected every level of the organization, from senior management through administrative support positions."

She said the affected employees received severance packages and ongoing job search support.

Last week, the hospital announced 22 workers accepted early retirement packages.

Vasapolli said the hospital has been facing "adverse demands."

"This includes reduced levels of reimbursement from commercial and government payers, changing utilization driven by downward pressures in the economy, and, most notably, New Hampshire’s Medicaid tax structure that added close to $9 million in additional, unreimbursed costs to the hospital in 2013 alone," she said.

Vasapolli previously said the cost-cutting measures were not in response to a high-profile hepatitis C outbreak last year. Thirty-two patients were infected. Some sued the hospital.

"Exeter Hospital and Core Physicians remain committed to their collective mission of improving the health of the community and delivering high quality patient care in the most efficient manner possible," Vasapolli said.