Lexington, KY - Hospice of the Bluegrass announced Friday morning that it will reduce staff by 2.5 percent, a total of 16 positions.
A release from the organization that provides end-of-life care states hospice programs nationally have faced significant cuts in reimbursements. The 2 percent rate cut from sequestration, which began April 1, is the third reduction for hospice programs enacted by the federal government since 2009.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Affordable Care Act also have imposed permanent reductions in hospice reimbursement rates.
Also, in the past 15 months Hospice of the Bluegrass has been admitting higher numbers of patients, but they are coming to Hospice later in their disease progression. In fact, Hospice has seen a 30 percent decline in the length of time a patient is in the program.
“The care to the nearly 900 patients and families receiving services each day from Hospice of the Bluegrass will not be disrupted,” Gretchen Brown, Hospice of the Bluegrass president and CEO said in a release. Hospice of the Bluegrass continues to be committed to compassionate quality care for the terminally ill, their families and the grieving in the 32 central, southeastern and northern Kentucky county service area.
“This decision was not made lightly and we regret having to take this action,” she said. “We care about the employees who are losing their positions and will do what we can to make a difficult situation more bearable.”
Hospice of the Bluegrass has offices in Lexington, Frankfort, Cynthiana, Florence, Hazard, Corbin, Harlan and Pikeville. The staff reduction only affects clinical and administrative staff in central Kentucky. Employees affected by the change have been offered a severance package and given at least 30 days’ notice.