Baptist Retirement Center trustees approved a slightly-increased
bud-get for their agency last week, while receiving updates on progress being
made at the facility.
Trustees also approved a bylaw change they say is designed
to help promote the Arcadia-based nursing facility more among Louisiana Baptists.
Baptist Retirement Center trustees approved a slightly-increased
bud-get for their agency last week, while receiving updates on progress being
made at the facility.
Trustees also approved a bylaw change they say is designed
to help promote the Arcadia-based nursing facility more among Louisiana Baptists.
The financial health of the retirement center has been a source
of recent concern.
A financial crunch hit in 2002 as a result skyrocketing malpractice
insurance costs. That necessitated termination of some employees and cutbacks
at the home, including shortened workweeks for some staff.
In January, trustees announced a three-year window had been
set for establishing the centers financial stability. The plan included
making the facility a Medicare provider, which allows it to offer more services
and provides increased funding.
Last week, reports of some progress were offered – and
trustees responded by adopting a budget of $4,376,600, an increase of $76,600
(1.8 percent).
Center Administrator Bob Nelson reported Medicare services
are being offered.
He said there are 114 residents at the center, including 77
Medicaid residents, 21 private-pay residents, 13 Medicare residents and three
hospice individuals.
That translated to an 80 percent capacity, double the capacity
level reported by another Arcadia nursing facility, he said.
Nelson also noted that despite the recent terminations, the
ratio of center employees to residents fall within state guidelines. He said
administrative staff plan to move back to a five-day workweek as well, beginning
in July.
Nelson said Medicare reimbursements just now are beginning
to be received but are showing signs of making a difference.
Nelson said the goal is to maintain about 12 Medicare residents
each month, which is “a reasonable and attainable number.” It also
is a practical number, since having very many more Medicare residents would
force the addition of workers, he said.
Hitting the Medicare target is critical, since its reimbursement
rate is about $200 more a day than Medicaid, Nelson noted.
“Well see a real good, positive cash flow within
six months, …” he said. “Now that were Medicare-skilled, its
a whole new ballgame. … And the words getting out.”
If the center can hold 114 residents, it should be making money,
agreed Gary Carlisle, controller for the center.
Currently, the center has paid all of its bills and all of
the Medicare startup costs, Carlisle said. “Were headed in the right
direction. … Were turning the curve.”
In presenting the proposed budget, Carlisle pointed out it
includes no pay increases. He said the budget is “very reachable”
for the center, which runs on a July 1-to-June 30 fiscal year.
However, he also cautioned that if Medicaid funding is reduced
– as some have suggested it will be – the center will be forced to
make budget adjustments.
Board members then approved the proposed budget without debate
or dissent.
Board members also agreed for administrators to look into the
possibility of refinancing about $2.5 million in center debt. Carlisle said
refinancing a seven-year note to 10 years at a possibly better rate could reduce
monthly payments.
Trustees also received a report regarding labor issues at the
center.
The facility has experienced some unrest following the necessary
terminations. In April, a union was voted in at the center, although it is not
yet certain how many employees will choose to join.
Meanwhile, the center faced a number of unfair labor charges
with the National Labor Relations Board.
However, attorney Greg Guidry reported that he had represented
the center in the matter, and all charges had been dismissed.
While that ruling may be appealed to the national level of
the board, Guidry said the odds are it will not be overturned.
Guidry also said he is waiting to hear from the union, which
typically sends out a letter to request that bargaining on labor issues begin.
He expressed confidence matters will be worked out in a positive way.
“Were probably in a much better situation than we
were three months ago (in regards to labor issues),” he said.
Two final trustee actions focused on changes to the center
bylaws.
Last year, the board changed one bylaw to stipulate no person
could serve as a trustee who has a family member in the center or a family member
who had recently been a resident of the facility.
That change vacated the seat of one trustee, an action that
eventually led to the formation of a local group to air concerns related to
the operation of the center.
The group has continued to seek action and has stated its wish
to place as many as six local representatives on the centers 12-person
board of trustees.
At the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the issue arose in the
Resolution Committee, when the Bienville Baptist Association sought to introduce
a three-part statement.
The resolution asked the center to reverse a pair of bylaw
changes and to require local representation on the board.
The resolution was ruled out of order since it had not been
introduced by a registered messenger. However, even if it had not been, it simply
would have been referred to the center trustees for consideration.
Thus, trustees last week discussed the issue briefly and decided
to respond with a letter that the requests had been considered, and no action
had been taken.
In its final action, trustees again altered the bylaw regarding
trustees, adopting a change that specifies “no new trustee may be nominated
from an association where a current trustee is presently serving.”
David Crosby questioned the wisdom of the action, noting the
center draws most of its residents from a 30-mile radius and already has strained
relationships in the area.
It may be more beneficial to have more local representation
– either through the board or a local advisory committee, said Crosby,
pastor at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Having a broader representation
is not going to help the center financially or in gaining residents from other
areas of the state, he suggested.
Crosby also suggested the proposed change was in reaction to
the local groups desire to place persons on the board.
But the truth is that the support of the local community –
Baptists included – are more important to the future of the center than
the support of New Orleans, he said.
“This (change) is another effort to distance ourselves
(from the local community), and I think its going to be read that way,”
he cautioned.
However, Bobby Dye emphasized the need to let Louisiana Baptists
know about the center and its ministry. Having trustees from a range of areas
throughout the state will help accomplish that, he said.
“We want Louisiana Baptists to buy into the Baptist Retirement
Center the way they have the (Louisiana Baptist) Childrens Home,”
said Dye, pastor at Central Baptist Church in Bossier City. “Thats
our goal.”
However, Dye also acknowledged the desire of the local group
to gain influence on the centers board.
“Im not going to allow Arcadia to control the Baptist
Retirement Center,” he said. “It belongs to the state (convention).”
George Treutlein agreed that many Louisiana Baptists do not
even know the center exists. “We need to let people know were here,”
said Treutlein, pastor at First Baptist Church of Tullos.
“If Louisiana Baptists do not buy into this home, it will
not survive as an institution of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, …”
warned Bill Green, pastor at First Baptist Church of Greenwood.
As a whole, Louisiana Baptists must take ownership of the center,
Green said.
“If we dont have representation from around the
state, we might as well close the books and sell it,” he emphasized.
Trustees agreed to change the bylaw, with Crosby casting the sole opposing
vote.