Another health-care provider in our area is making dramatic changes because of reduced funding through the Affordable Care Act. In a news release, Liberty Hospital announced Tuesday it is laying off 129 workers.

The hospital said it is trying to cut expenses by $20 million. To do that, they plan to close the hospital’s wound clinic, eliminate the hospital-funded patient transportation program, and eliminate 129 positions.

Another recommendation from the task forces appointed by the hospital’s Board of Trustees was to utilize full-time employees to increase core nursing teams and build consistency.

“In 2014 the Affordable Care Act will reduce payments to hospitals from Medicare,” the company said in the news release.

“Hospitals also will experience reduced payments due to the lack of an expansion to the Medicaid program and growing bad debt due to patients being forced to manage increased out-of-pocket costs.”

The layoffs were expected to start this week through May 24.