The Erie County Medical Center announced hundreds of layoffs on Thursday, which represents approximately a 3% reduction in workforce.
According to ECMC, the layoffs affect “mostly non-clinical areas.”
In a statement, ECMC officials blamed Medicaid cuts, inflationary costs and other financial challenges as reasoning for the layoffs.
“Due to inadequate reimbursements from both public and private payers (including Medicaid cuts), inflationary costs, and other financial challenges, ECMC has made the decision to reduce our workforce by about 3% in mostly non-clinical areas. Additionally, all Management Confidential employees are taking an unpaid one-week furlough in 2026. Like many other safety net hospitals across New York State and the U.S. that are facing rising costs without the commensurate reimbursements to cover costs of patient care, ECMC’s circumstance is not unique. In addition, insurance companies continue to deny and delay payment for patient care services at an alarming rate. Despite this very difficult decision, ECMC has not closed programs, but has made targeted reductions in services to meet patient demands and our financial realities. ECMC will continue to provide the high-quality, national best-inclass care our community expects and deserves.”
In addition, all managerial employees will take an unpaid one-week furlough in 2026.
ECMC officials added that they have not closed any programs.