Apr 5, 2017 3 min read

The “for sale” sign has been up, figuratively speaking, at Washington County Health Center since January, and the county was poised Wednesday to make a $200,000 transfer of funds to meet health center payroll Friday.

The transfer of funds had been projected at between $500,000 and $750,000, but occupancy and census figures at the 288-bed facility were up during the first quarter.

The health center last operated in the black in 2011, and since then, the county has infused the facility with more than $9 million to keep it afloat. Not all of the first-quarter bills related to the health center’s operating expenses have been submitted, so the deficit could reach $700,000 so far this year, and if the trend would continue for the remainder of the year, losses at the facility would be on track to reach $2.1 million.

Although the county previously published an April date for “best and final proposals” from potential health center purchasers, Scott Fergus said the process is going a bit more slowly.

“We are in the process of scheduling interviews for the people who have submitted proposals,” Fergus said Wednesday. He is a member of the committee conducting interviews along with health center administrator Tim Kimmel, chief clerk Cynthia Griffin, solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven, county finance director Joshua Hatfield and human resources director Kathleen Bali. Mark Stewart, the Harrisburg attorney handling the sale of the health center and an assistant will also participate in the process.

After interviewing prospective buyers, committee members will make recommendations to the commissioners, who will decide which of the bidders’ facility or facilities should be evaluated through in-person visits.

The commissioners have reserved the right to reject bids for the health center, but if they select a buyer, the purchaser has the opportunity to also exercise due diligence in verifying information from the county, obtaining financing and scheduling a closing on the property.

“We’re still hoping to have it completed by the end of summer, maybe before then,” Fergus said. Once the county’s infusions of cash to the health center end, Fergus said the money will be directed at other projects.

The nursing home provides rehabilitation, care of patients who have Alzheimer’s disease, adult day care and other activities. All beds are certified for participants in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

As part of a 24-page request for proposals published earlier this year, the county wants assurance the buyer will provide long-term care for residents over the next 15 years and a declaration of how many beds it plans to dedicate to nursing home care.

Its objective is that the facility continue as a provider of high-quality care with access to long-term care for “the indigent and vulnerable.”

The health center has achieved a four-star rating from the state, and any entity submitting a proposal “shall clearly state its willingness to accept and serve Medicaid residents,” according to the county’s advertisement posted online.

The health center was built in the 1970s, but federal and state reimbursements for care of patients has steadily declined, officials say.

Employed there are 305 people, including 276 full-timers and 29 part-timers. More than 200 are members of Service Employees International Union/Healthcare, and representatives have pleaded with the commissioners at every public meeting since December not to sell the facility.

The commissioners have set as a condition of the sale the new operator give first consideration to current health center employees when hiring.

The board of commissioners meets at 10 a.m. today on the first floor of the Courthouse Square office building.