Layoffs of some 1,500 LSU hospital employees scheduled for January 21 reportedly have been put on hold.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that the layoffs, which could have affected over 400 employees of the Interim LSU Hospital in New Orleans and others at six other hospitals across the state, have been put on hold as the state continues negotiations with private partners to take over operations of the medical facilities.

The newspaper said it learned of the decision through an email sent to state legislators by Frank Opelka, Executive VP of the LSU System.

The Advocate reported that Opelka wrote, "As of now, the only layoffs anticipated involve five people at W.O. Moss Medical Center in Lake Charles and 42 at Bogalusa Medical Center where permanent reductions are ncessary and no partnership is likely to result in the retention of all services at those facilities."

The plan to layoff employees was approved in October by the LSU Board in response to $300 million in budget cuts after Congress reduced the federal contribution to the state's Medicaid program for the poor.

Layoff notices had been posted at the hospital in New Orleans, the Chabert Medical Center in Houma, the Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge, and hospitals in Lafayette, Independence, Bogalusa and Lake Charles.