54 laid off at Baystate since August 1

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Citing concerns about the need to cut costs following national and state health care reforms, Baystate Health has laid off 54 workers since the beginning of August.

According to Greg Harb, Chief Operating Officer of Baystate Health, the company needs to reduce its budget by $120 million over three years, in order to break-even on Medicare payments. He says that Baystate Health could be impacted by $100 million in reductions in government payments over the next three to four years.

In a statement sent to 22News by Baystate Public Affairs, Harb said that eliminating positions is always a last resort.

There was no information on which departments saw the layoffs.

Baystate Health is the largest employer in western Massachusetts.