Coast hospital lays off nearly 50 workers

GULFPORT — Forty-seven employees have been laid off at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport.

Gary Marchand, the hospitals president and CEO, says the layoffs came Friday and included 35 full-time employees. He says 10 nurses were laid off.

Marchard said yesterday that Memorial Hospital is trying to offset an anticipated $11 million shortfall related to reimbursement reductions from Medicare and Medicaid.

Marchard said in a memo to workers that the hospital will shut down its hospice program on Oct. 1. He said workers will see an increase in their health insurance premiums.

He said a wage freeze will be in effect for directors and administrators.