MeritCare Health System

Officials with MeritCare Health System say the state's largest hospital plans to lay off up to 100 workers, and other employees will have their hours reduced. Details of the cutbacks have not been completed, officials said in a news release. The cutbacks will affect about 300 employees and some positions will not be filled, the release said. MeritCare officials said the company's financial situation is affected by a planned 2.5 percent reduction in reimbursements from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, and expected Medicare cuts of 10.6 percent to physician payments.