Belknap County nursing home reports 59% occupancy and details staffing, reimbursement shortfalls

Belknap County nursing home staff told county officials the facility is operating at roughly 59% occupancy and faces persistent staffing shortages and reimbursement constraints that complicate efforts to increase census and balance the budget.

The nursing homeadministrator, Shelley, told commissioners the facility needs roughly 12 registered nurses, 13 LPNs/med techs and 30 licensed nursing assistants (LNAs) to staff at full capacity and that current agency staffing and contracts partly cover open shifts. "We could fill this building with residents, but how are we gonna staff it?" Shelley said during the meeting.

The county discussion focused on three linked problems: lower occupancy, the cost of agency staffing, and Medicaid reimbursement levels. Shelley said Belknap Countyexpects its Medicaid daily rate to rise to $283 on Jan. 1 and described long delays in Medicaid payments for some residents. She also presented a spreadsheet comparing county and peer facilitiesshowing lower census and high agency use across the region.

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