Medicaid cuts at the CCNH

Posted March 24th, 2008 at 09:30 AM by David Cearlock
in

In reference to:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/03/24/medicaid_cuts_hurt_champaign_county 

I heard these cuts were coming about a month and a half ago when there were rumors of layoffs at the CCNH. However, the nursing home administrator Andrew denied any potential layoffs in an email. These cuts should not have been a shock to the nursing home or the county. The new formula for calculating Medicaid rates has been public for some time now for anyone to see.  Again the County Board has shown us all why government has no business running a medical facility. They over pay for a new facility when despite what they tell you the old facility could have been repaired and upgraded much more cost effectively than building a new one. Naturally the building of the new facility has all kinds of problems because again the County Board was in charge. The county will now be forced to do one of the following raise taxes, cut services or the only sensible thing which is to privatize the nursing home.

Here is hoping that our elected officials on the County Board suddenly got sensible.

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On March 24th, 2008 at 11:06 AM, CB Watcher (not verified) said:

They over pay for a new facility when despite what they tell you the old facility could have been repaired and upgraded much more cost effectively than building a new one.

As one who was actively involved in the plans for the new facility, I can assure you that the old facility could not have been upgraded more cost effectively to the point that a one hundred-year old facility needed to be to meet today's standards.  A new facility was the only option.  Unfortunately, the Medicaid cuts have negatively impacted revenues as well as staffing issues.  I sincerely hope that the Board will do what it can to support the nursing home without privatization.  The residents living there are deserving of this new facility and it provides the care that Champaign County's reputation is based on.

David Cearlock's picture
On March 24th, 2008 at 12:39 PM, David Cearlock said:

"As one who was actively involved in the plans for the new facility"

Oh, so you are to blame :-D 

All kidding aside as someone who frequently remodels and repairs distressed property both commercial and residential I disagree with CB Watcher. A new facility was not required. However, the real issue is that the County can't just eat $600,000 so they must make a choice and to me privatization is the only option that makes sense for both the County and the patients in the CCNH.