Catholic Church Seeks New Provider To Run Three Nursing Homes

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN Associated Press Writer

STAMFORD (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is seeking a new provider to operate its three nursing homes, saying state reimbursements are inadequate to cover costs.

The move comes after 18 nursing homes have closed in the state in recent years, church officials said. Some state officials are worried about more closures and a shortage of beds.

“I’m not sure we’re going to stem the rate of closures we’ve seen in the last few years,” said state Senator Chris Murphy, co-chairman of the legislature’s Public Health Committee. “If several more homes close, we’re going to have real problems in terms of space in nursing homes.”

Connecticut spends about $1 billion a year on nursing homes, which receive about 70 percent of their revenue through Medicaid.

Federal health authorities earlier this month approved a plan by Connecticut officials to funnel an additional $118 million in federal funding to nursing homes and nonprofit social service agencies in the state each year.

Nursing homes had requested all the $118 million, because the additional funding is based on a new fee on nursing homes. The nursing homes are getting $52 million of the extra funds.

Church officials said the decision by the state to divert some of the new federal funds to the social service agencies contributed to their decision to seek a new provider for the three nursing homes.

The new provider could buy the homes, lease them or form a partnership with the diocese to run them, church officials said. The homes — St Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, Pope John Paul II Center for Health Care in Danbury and St Camillus in Stamford — have 562 beds and 900 employees.

The diocese has run two of the homes since the 1980s and the other for 45 years.

“Our biggest problem is that the state of Connecticut’s reimbursement has consistently lagged behind the cost of patient care on a day-to-day basis,” said Michael R. Bird, executive director of the Bridgeport Diocesan Health Care Corp, which oversees the three homes.

Church officials said they would insist that the nursing homes preserve their Catholic identity. State approval will be required, officials said.

“We are staying in this ministry and we want to be part of the solution,” said Bishop William Lori. “Our three homes are treasures we want to safeguard, and our valued employees and dedicated volunteers are vital to the success of our homes.”

Church officials said the decision has nothing to do with abuse settlements it reached in recent years. Those settlements were funded through insurance and the sale of surplus land owned by the diocese, church officials said.