Overdue bills whittled down
McCOOK, Neb. -- Outstanding bills due Hillcrest Nursing Home are being whittled down.
About 10 percent, or $40,000 of the approximate $400,000 due the facility from private-pay patients, has been recovered, said Hillcrest administrator Colinda Nappa. At the Hillcrest Board of Trustee meeting Tuesday, Nappa said the funds were collected, thanks in part to the attorney Hillcrest has hired, and that Medicare has paid on some old claims.
In October, Nappa told the board that Hillcrest has retained McCook City attorney Nate Mustion for $150 an hour in an effort to collect funds. The nursing home is owned by Red Willow County but operates on its own revenue.
To further collect on outstanding debts, Hillcrest has become the representative payee for two more residents, Nappa said, and adult protective services have investigated claims of misappropriation of a vulnerable adults' finances, when Hillcrest reported that bills were not being paid by family members.
"We're taking all the steps we can take," Nappa told the Gazette Wednesday.
In other business, the board heard proposals from three bond companies, Ameritas, D.A. Davidson and First National Capital Markets, on re-financing Hillcrest's $2.145 million bond. The 2011 bond was used for improvements at Hillcrest, such as the remodeling done in the 100 wing.
The Red Willow County Commissioners started this year a tax levy of 1.3 cents to go toward the Hillcrest bond payments, effective through October 2031. As the tax levy was started this year, revenue cannot be collected until next year.
Also attending the meeting Tuesday was Don Harpst, former Hillcrest administrator, who complimented the board on its work. He also gave a shout-out to Bruce McDowell, City Council member, who is helping Harpst with landscaping at the facility.
The finance committee consisting of Hillcrest board trustees Mike Eklund and Randy Dean, Red Willow County Commissioner Vesta Dack and Colinda Nappa, will review all three bond re-structuring proposals and bring back their recommendation to the full board at its May 24 meeting. After a vote, that proposal will then be forwarded to the county commissioners for its consideration at its June 6 meeting.
Other items discussed by the board included:
* Cash flow for the month presented to the board included total cash on hand of $751,739.27, total receivables, $107,988.10, current payables of $370,351.02, leaving a positive cash flow of $489,376.35. This month, the facility paid $207,910 in payables, not including payroll.
* Census count at Hillcrest, as of Tuesday: 87 residents, with one in hospice, 13 Medicare (skilled), 34 private-pay, 36 state (Medicaid) and 3 Veteran's Administration. The facility has a total of 100 beds available.