Faxton St. Luke’s eliminates 37 positions

UTICA  —  Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare slashed 37 positions in a mix of layoffs and eliminated vacancies, carrying out a round of job cuts it attributed to a financial squeeze from Medicare and Medicaid payment cuts.

The Utica–based hospital system laid off 10 workers and removed 27 vacant positions. The reductions included both clinical and non-clinical staffers in supervisory and non-supervisory roles.

“Making reductions in our workforce is always a difficult decision, and like many New York State hospitals that have recently downsized their workforce, we are facing the same financial challenges,” Faxton St. Luke’s President and CEO, Scott Perra, said in a news release. “We continue to be targeted by the federal government for more reductions in payments for patient and resident care and face significant financial challenges in the coming year. Even with the brief two-month delay by Congress to avoid what has been termed the fiscal cliff, we continue to see further reductions to Medicare and Medicaid payments in a number of health-care services.”

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare has 2,900 employees and operates on a budget of $339 million. It includes St. Luke’s Home, the Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, Senior Network Health, and Mohawk Valley Home Care.

The hospital system offered eligible employees severance packages.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com