From the Green County Board Pleasant View Oversight Committee
To the editor:
The future operations at the Pleasant View Nursing Home will go before Green County voters Aug. 12 in a referendum question requesting up to $790,000 annually in additional tax money over the next five years.
The funding would replace the larger $890,000 annual tax levy approved by voters and set to expire at the end of the year. The new funds would be used solely for operating expenses, including cost of care not covered by Medicaid, capital improvements and maintenance to the campus and replacement of equipment and furnishings.
For taxpayers, the $790,000 request will amount to a $0.31 per thousand of equalized valuation or $31 based on $100,000 equalized property value. That would replace the current levy of $0.35 per thousand of equalized valuation approved in the previous referendum.
Pleasant View is a skilled-care facility licensed to provide care for up to 130 residents. That care is paid for by Medicaid, Medicare, the Veterans Administration, insurance companies and individual payments. Everyone at Pleasant View has a payor source.
So why the need for additional taxpayer funding?
The Medicaid program pays for approximately 74 percent of Pleasant View residents. The average cost of care per day for a Medicaid resident is approximately $190. Medicaid pays about $145 per day, resulting is a $45 per day deficit per patient.
Of the remaining 26 percent of the patients, approximately 12 percent are paid for by the Medicare program and 14 percent are private pay patients. Both pay at or slightly above the cost of daily care, allowing for a small margin of profit. That profit, however, does not cover the deficit by the 74 percent receiving Medicaid coverage.
Our committee is looking at additional ways to build revenue and lessen the need for additional taxpayer support in the future. But more operating revenue is needed now.
A definite need exists for our county-owned facility for those unable to live safely in their home, for those whose needs cannot be met by other providers and for those who cannot pay for private services and do not qualify for state and federal programs.
Additional information on Pleasant View and on the referendum can be found at pleasantviewnursinghome.org, by calling Pleasant View at 325-2171 or from members of the Oversight Committee.
We strongly support the referendum and urge its passage. Vote yes on Aug. 12.
To the editor:
The future operations at the Pleasant View Nursing Home will go before Green County voters Aug. 12 in a referendum question requesting up to $790,000 annually in additional tax money over the next five years.
The funding would replace the larger $890,000 annual tax levy approved by voters and set to expire at the end of the year. The new funds would be used solely for operating expenses, including cost of care not covered by Medicaid, capital improvements and maintenance to the campus and replacement of equipment and furnishings.
For taxpayers, the $790,000 request will amount to a $0.31 per thousand of equalized valuation or $31 based on $100,000 equalized property value. That would replace the current levy of $0.35 per thousand of equalized valuation approved in the previous referendum.
Pleasant View is a skilled-care facility licensed to provide care for up to 130 residents. That care is paid for by Medicaid, Medicare, the Veterans Administration, insurance companies and individual payments. Everyone at Pleasant View has a payor source.
So why the need for additional taxpayer funding?
The Medicaid program pays for approximately 74 percent of Pleasant View residents. The average cost of care per day for a Medicaid resident is approximately $190. Medicaid pays about $145 per day, resulting is a $45 per day deficit per patient.
Of the remaining 26 percent of the patients, approximately 12 percent are paid for by the Medicare program and 14 percent are private pay patients. Both pay at or slightly above the cost of daily care, allowing for a small margin of profit. That profit, however, does not cover the deficit by the 74 percent receiving Medicaid coverage.
Our committee is looking at additional ways to build revenue and lessen the need for additional taxpayer support in the future. But more operating revenue is needed now.
A definite need exists for our county-owned facility for those unable to live safely in their home, for those whose needs cannot be met by other providers and for those who cannot pay for private services and do not qualify for state and federal programs.
Additional information on Pleasant View and on the referendum can be found at pleasantviewnursinghome.org, by calling Pleasant View at 325-2171 or from members of the Oversight Committee.
We strongly support the referendum and urge its passage. Vote yes on Aug. 12.
