Nursing Home Updates

Over the last couple weeks there have been some news items related to the recent sale of the Champaign County Nursing Home, but not directly about it. For example, one of the new owners has been in the news for two other area nursing homes he has purchased recently, including one he has also just closed. To be clear, the nursing home that's being closed is a different facility than the former Champaign County Nursing Home. From the News-Gazette earlier this month:

County nursing home buyer now controls two others in Champaign
One of the new owners of the former Champaign County Nursing Home in Urbana now also owns majority shares in two other nursing homes in Champaign.

William "Avi" Rothner and some members of the Rothner family now own most of the former Helia Healthcare of Champaign at 1915 S. Mattis Ave., C, and the former Heartland of Champaign at 309 E. Springfield Ave., C.

The former Heartland sold for nearly $1.4 million in December and was renamed Champaign Living Center the same month, according to county and state records.

The former Helia Healthcare was sold in May 2018 for $1.4 million. The state license transfer and new name, Champaign Rehab Center, became official April 1, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The sale, license transfer and new name for the former county nursing home, now called University Rehab Center, were also finalized April 1...

Rothner declined to talk about future plans for the two Champaign nursing homes Friday.

Full article with more information here. And from the News-Gazette a couple weeks ago:

4 months after buying Campustown nursing home, new owner set to close it
Less than four months after buying the former Heartland of Champaign nursing home in the Campustown area, the new owners have filed a notice of intent with the state to close the facility.

The 102-bed home at 309 E. Springfield Ave., C — renamed Champaign Living Center after it changed hands in December — was among three C-U nursing homes recently bought by members of the Rothner family...

Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said the state requires a 60-day notice in advance of closing a home, so the Champaign Living Center can't close before June 12.

The facility is working with residents and their families to place residents in new homes that meet their needs, she said.

As of last week, there were 45 residents in that home, according to Administrator Dawn Job.

That full article here. Empty beds has long been an issue raised with the financial state of the old County Nursing Home. Time will tell if this closing could lead to a better area situation in the long run, including for the old County Home. WILL had coverage of the State of Illinois' situation on Nursing Home closures and State funding cuts here. The News-Gazette had an AP overview of the federal situation which also includes the possibility of funding cuts in the future here.

As far as the County government's budget problems are concerned, the most recent April County Board meeting (video here when available) included a presentation of the five year forecast. Unfortunately the sale of the Nursing Home, especially with delays, still leaves the future a bit grim. A few relevant excerpts from the report (available here):

The County has limited control over the majority of its revenue sources, which poses a significant challenge for the County’s General Fund when the cost of services, commodities and personnel expenditures continue to rise.

Department Heads and Elected Officials have continuously been willing to defer capital needs and technology upgrades, restrain commodities and services spending, and use special revenue funds for personnel and transfers to alleviate pressure on the General Fund. There will be growing pressure on General Fund revenues to cover expenditures as the County focuses on increasing its investment in facilities and technology, while also experiencing cuts to revenue passed down from the State.

...

The Forecast does not included funding to replace the County’s financial system although this is an urgent need that can no longer be deferred and must be managed with currently available revenues. Upon issuance of an RFP, and receipt of responses, the County will have a better idea of the system cost. It is expected there will be limited Public Safety Sales Tax funds available beginning in FY2020 to partially fund the system. Unfortunately, there is a projected structural deficit within the General Fund. Unless new revenue sources are secured, it is essential the County restrict expenditure growth to the maximum extent possible within these funds in order to ensure it has adequate financial resources for its financial system and facility needs.

It is essential for the County Board to be cognizant of the debt it carries on the General Fund balance sheet for the $1.98 million Promissory Note and the $1 million loan to the Nursing Home.

Full forecast information packet here.