Volunteer State Health Care Firms Lay Off 200

Two East Tennessee medical employers announced layoffs resulting in nearly 200 lost health care jobs in the region.

Mountain States Health Alliance, which operates the Johnson City Medical Center, announced Friday that it has eliminated 109 jobs.

Kingsport-based Wellmont Health System said it is cutting 86 jobs and won’t fill another 60 positions. Wellmont operates clinics and hospitals in Tennessee and Virginia.

MSHA CEO Dennis Vonderfecht said reimbursement cuts, increases in uninsured & underinsured patients, and decreasing investment income have pinched the system’s finances.

MSHA employs more than 7,800 people and Wellmont has nearly 7,000 employees.