Washington State’s $2.9 billion budget shortfall is causing 160 workers in that state’s Medicaid program to lose their jobs. 

The reductions are in the Health and Recovery Services Administration, which is a division of the state Department of Social and Health Services. 

Of the reduced positions, about 20 will be from vacancies and retirements with the remainder via employee layoffs.  About 720 persons work in the state’s Medicaid program. The DSHS call center is slated to lose 30 positions, which may cause Washington State providers to experience even longer telephone wait times than the 17-minute minimum wait they’re currently experiencing.

Approximately one million residents of Washington are covered by Medicaid, with a majority of those children.

HRSA is not the only department that will lose workers.  Employee reductions are slated for other state agencies in an effort to balance the budget.