New deal with state restores $$$ to Hamden’s Arden House

New deal with state restores funding to Hamden’s Arden House

New Haven Register

HAMDEN — One of Hamden’s largest employers has been saved through a deal reached with the state.

The Arden House, owned by Genesis HealthCare, was at risk of closing after the state cut the facility’s Medicaid reimbursement, potentially displacing more than 250 residents and around 300 employees.

In an agreement with Genesis and the state, Arden House will get a one percent increase in its reimbursement rate, retroactive to the start of the fiscal year. In turn, Arden will de-license a number of beds.

Arden House was one of nine nursing homes for which the state cut reimbursements, over declining utilization and lower ratings.

“Arden house was on the chopping block because the Medicaid reimbursement was shorted this fiscal year and we’ve been fighting since then to have the reimbursement restored,” said state Sen. George Logan, R-Ansonia. “It’s been a team effort working with the Hamden delegation.”

Arden House Administrator Patrick McDonnell said in July the facility was looking at losing $2 million to $2.25 million over the course of a year because it has such a large Medicaid population — about 245 residents.

“I’m glad Governor Lamont and the commissioners recognized that this needed to be adjusted,” Logan said.

Genesis will reduce licensed beds from 360 beds to 271 beds, according to a letter from the Department of Social Services to Genesis HealthCare.
Logan said Arden House is an important pillar for the Hamden community because of the number of people who live in the area and the facility’s access to transportation.

He said even though the state is looking to shift from funding long-term care facilities to stay-in-place care, sometimes seniors need around-the-clock care.

“We all recognized hands down that this needed to get done,” he said. “Eliminating the reimbursement would in effect have made the facility not financially viable and shut it down.”

Logan said health care facilities still have slim margins for operation, even with the increased reimbursement rate.
The rate extends to the end of the fiscal year at $232.06 per day.

“Arden has been a part of this community for a long time,” Mayor Curt B. Leng said at the time.

Arden House CNA Cassandra Williams previously said closing the facility would hurt residents, staff and everyone’s extended families because being able to stay at the Arden House lifts a burden for many people who can’t take care of aging or disabled family members.
4
 
https://www.ctinsider.com/metro/nhregister/article/New-deal-with-state-restores-funding-to-14862330.php?cmpid=gsa-nhregister-result&_ga=2.154126008.1626946519.1574795249-470538836.1574795249