HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-02-12 Health Center Committee MinutesHealth Center Committee
February 12, 1985 at 8:00 a.m.
Minutes
Present: councilor Ed Brown, Chairman
Councilor Marshall Frankel
Councilor Larry Willey
John Flynn, City Manager
Ted Jellison, Finance Director
Judy Roscetti, Nursing Facility
Administrator
Sharon Minor, Nursing Facility
1. Cerebral Palsy Pont.
The Committee unanimously agreed that as of July 1, 1985 that
all rental spaces within the Nursing Facility will be rented
at $5.15per square foot. From the period July 1, 1984 through
June 30, 1985, the Committee agreed to stand by the proposal
offered to the CP Center for $4.68 per square foci. The CP
Center had rejected that rental price offer previously.
Councilor Willey suggested that the $4.68 fee be restated again,
as it was last fall, and to further indicate that as of July 1,
1985 the fee will be $5.15 for everyone. He further indicated
that if the fee is not agreed upon by the Center that the City
has no other alternative to offer.
2. Cost Report S Reimbursement Recommendations - Affiliated Health-
care Management.
Dan Coffey and Elmer Doucette of Affiliated Healthcare Management
were .present to discuss their recommendation that the City Nursing
Center not separate into two distinct parts in order to create a
more favorable reimbursement from the State. The dual -license
arrangement had been suggested previously by Mr. Leo LaPlante, an
independent CPA, who indicated that the nursing facility might be
loosing money each year in reimbursements because it carries only
skilled -care nursing license. He had suggested. that since 604
,of the�cafe provided is intermediate -care nursinq that the facility,
should have a license for that as well as for skilled -care nursing.
Affiliated -Healthcare Management felt that this arrangement would
not be in the best interest of the Facility as it is simply a
rearrangement of costs which won't provide much benefit as the
Facility is currently over the Medicare ceiling. The two -licensing
would require that the costs for the care of each patient be broken
down into time spent, goods and equipment used, with a pro -rated
form of maintenance and other service costs included.
Councilor Willey indicated he would like the licensing question to
be further pursued to determine which of the two accountant's
suggestion would be most suitable for the City's Nursing Facility,
and asked for more information. NO also suggested that Mr. LaPlante,
Affiliated Healthcare and the Committee meet to question all parties
concerned and to get some actual facts.
Affiliated Health Care stated they would not attend a public
meeting with Mr. Laplante.
3. Status of Appeal.
The Committee agreed to appeal the reimbursement formula i
n attempt to determine if the Facility is receiving all the
money to which it is entitled. The Committeequestioned if
the appeal process was part of Affiliated's proposal. The
City Manager explained that when proposals were solicited it
a for two distinct proposals -'the cost report and the cost per
hour to prepare an appeal.
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Affiliated stated, as far as they were
concerned, they would not
hold the City to any arrangement asfarasthe appeal is concerned.
If the City would be more comfortable with another firm, they are.
free to make other arrangements.
The Committee agreed that Affiliated was chosen through the
normal City purchasing procedure and should be the firm to work
on an appeal.
The Comnittee-miso agreed that the administration should proceed
immediately with ,the appeal and Ithatfunding should come from
th Contigge t Account to cover costs. This will require
Council Crde tion:-----
Councilor Willey questioned the award of the contract to
Affiliated Healthcare Management back in August of 1984 and
questioned why the urgency of the appeal is just being brought
to the Committee's attention. It was pointed out that it had
been brought to the City's attention in April of 1983 and 1984
and in June and December 1984. Mrs. Roscetti explained that
the reason for delay was that the state auditing department had
tried to do the same thing for a group of nursing homes as a
group and was optimistic about the results.- This was denied,-_
in October on the basis that it could not be .done -as 5"}roup b&t
as individual facilities.
Councilor Willey'also requested that in the future selection of
consultants be brought to the full City Council and not to
the Finance Committee alone.
A motion was made and approved by the Committee to authorize
procedure of the appeal and to employ Affiliated Healthcare to
handle the procedure with a ceiling of $5,000 to come from the
Contingency Account.
4.. Legislation.
At Councilor Willey's suggestion, the City staff will prepare
legislation which would urge the state to recognize the
Bangor and Portland nuing homes a special providers of care
which serve people ataafar-ranging regional level.
Committee adjourned at 9:45 a.m. &f- -