The hospital announced in a statement wage reductions of 2.5 percent for employees and 2.75 percent for management staff that will go into effect on October 6.

Jim Wood, vice president for administration and chief human resource officer, said the eliminated positions include a variety of clerical and management level jobs while maintaining patient care positions.

He said the hospital continues to explore partnerships with other entities.

“Eliminating jobs and reducing pay is never an easy decision to make,” William Mahone, president of Halifax Regional, said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide the highest quality care for our patients while maintaining our financial stability. Our state legislative leaders need to understand that by not expanding Medicaid, service line and staff reductions will become more commonplace at community hospitals and especially rural community hospitals.”

Adapting to the new financial realities of healthcare reform, these cost reductions impact departments throughout the Medical Center. As part of the restructuring, 13 positions were eliminated. Of the 13 positions, seven employees were offered other positions within the medical center.

Since October 2012, 72 positions that became vacant have not been filled, bringing the total number of eliminated positions at Halifax Regional to 85 in the last 12 months. These 85 positions represent approximately $2 Million in reduced yearly payroll impacting the community, the hospital said in the statement.

Like many community hospitals, Halifax Regional is taking this action under the burden of several factors including:

North Carolina’s decision not to expand Medicaid

State cuts to Medicaid reimbursements

Federal Medicare payments cuts

Federal payment cuts due to sequestration