King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services, one of the largest and most respected integrated hospital management companies, including 340 inpatient behavioral health facilities, has announced a mass reduction in force at its San Antonio-based Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, a 330-bed behavioral health facility, due to patient health and safety concerns.
The reduction in force will impact 648 employees with a scheduled layoff date of June 26, 2026.
The layoffs follow a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which terminated its Medicare provider agreement and will not pay for services provided to residents admitted on or after April 30, 2026.
A UHS spokesperson noted, “CMS recently notified Laurel Ridge that its Medicare provider agreement will be terminated effective April 30, 2026. We are deeply disappointed by this outcome and recognize the significant impact it will have on our dedicated team members and the communities we serve. As a result of this regulatory action, we must implement a workforce reduction. Support resources are being provided to impacted employees during this transition period, including career fairs.”
In 2024, the facility’s CEO, Jacob Cuellar, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing a juvenile.
Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?
