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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. - 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- -