Maxim Healthcare Services to close Columbia office

Maxim Healthcare Services will close its Columbia offices on Forest Drive in December, the company said, laying off 90 employees just ahead of the Christmas holidays.

The company, headquartered in Columbia, Md., did not announce any closures or layoffs at any of its other locations in South Carolina, which include an office in Charleston and 11 locations in Greenville.

“Following a review of our South Carolina operations, Maxim Healthcare Services recently made the difficult decision to discontinue service at the Columbia office,” Rebecca Kirkham, Maxim spokesperson, said in a statement. “The decision was driven, in part, by the state’s reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients, which impact our ability to grow services and recruit and retain qualified healthcare professionals.”

South Carolina’s Medicaid program, named Heathy Connections, is the state’s health insurance program that uses state and federal tax money to pay for low-income families and individuals who are unable to pay for necessary medical services. The Palmetto State is one of 26 states that have not signed on to the Affordable Health Care Act, which eliminates billions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements the state would otherwise be eligible to receive.

Maxim Healthcare Services provides home healthcare, medical staffing, and wellness services across the United States.

Maxim began notifying employees and affected patients last month of its decision to close, Kirkham said. Eligible Maxim employees will receive severance pay and also have the opportunity to transfer to another Maxim location, she said.

The company is working “closely” with other healthcare providers to ensure their patients receive continued care without interruption. Maxim was founded in 1988.

“These are never easy decisions, but we must take the necessary steps to ensure that we are operating efficiently and are structured to support long-term growth and stability,” Kirkham’s statement said. “Providing the highest quality of care and service to our patients and clients remains our top priority.”

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Maxim Healthcare Services to close Columbia office."