Hillcrest votes to change hours of full-time employees

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Board of Trustees voted to change the number of hours that define a full-time employee, in response to the Affordable Care Act.

The board changed the definition of full-time employees from 38 hours per week to 30 at its regular meeting Tuesday, to match the guidelines set forth in the Affordable Care Act, said Hillcrest administrator, Colinda Nappa.

The change will also allow part-time employees an opportunity to use the health exchange to get insurance coverage and be a cost savings to both employees and Hillcrest, Nappa said.

In a related matter, the board voted to offer insurance to those employees who meet the definition of full-time. Previously, Hillcrest offered insurance to part-time and full-time employees.

The board also voted to use a different insurance company to offer employees better coverage, with most employees seeing a cost savings with the new premium, Nappa said.

In other business, the board reviewed the financials, that included total cash at $475,908.86. This includes $306,672,42 in the Sinking Fund account, that is used to make annual payments on the $1 million loan the facility borrowed from Red Willow County in July 2012, to cover expenses.

Total payments due the facility is $349,848.51, that includes payments from Medicaid, Medicare and private care.

Total of bills that are due come to $351,375.83.

The number of residents at Hillcrest comes to 98 residents as of Feb. 25, compared to 87 this time last year. Of that, 9 are in skilled nursing, compared to 15 last year; three with the Veteran's administration; 49 private pay (29 in 2013) and 36 state pay (42 in 2013). The assisted living unit is at full capacity with 10.