Mary Washington Healthcare Lays Off 66, Cuts Hours for Others

Mary Washington Healthcare has let go 66 employees and cut hours or shifted responsibilities for an additional 200 staff members.

The news was made public in a note to staff from CEO Fred Rankin. He notes that impacted employees have already been notified.

“We have been forced into this action because of many factors, most notably, significant cuts to what we are paid to care for patients,” Rankin wrote.

He notes that efforts have been made to cut costs and avoid layoffs, but there was still a $8 million deficit in 2013. Rankin stresses that this should be a one-time layoff and that customer care will not be negatively impacted from the cuts.

Employees included in the layoff received severance packages of up to 16 weeks, depending on length of employment, according to the Fredericksburg.com.

The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus blamed the cuts on politics — particularly, Medicaid expansion that has been rejected by Statehouse Republicans.

“These layoffs show, once again, the high cost of Republicans’ refusal to act,” said Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington). “Closing the coverage gap would save hundreds of lives per year, but it would also save jobs. In fact, we could create more than 30,000 jobs — while helping to ensure that endangered hospitals remain open for business. Virginians are suffering because the House Republicans are playing politics with health care.”