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Rockhaven budget recommends operating changes, revenue assumptions and targeted capital work for 2026
Summary
Rockhaven, the county27s 128-bed skilled nursing facility, submitted a 2026 recommended budget that assumes higher Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates, a modest private-pay increase and targeted capital and equipment investments while declining to fund major recommended clinical reclassifications.
Rockhaven, Rock County's 128-bed skilled nursing facility, was presented in the Human Services portion of the 2026 recommended budget with a set of revenue assumptions and selected capital and operational investments.
What staff presented County staff explained the 2026 revenue assumptions used in the Rockhaven budget: an estimated Medicaid reimbursement of $564 per day in 2026 (up from the $505.26 per-day budgeted for 2025), Medicare at $528 per day (up about $40), and a private-pay daily rate increase to $400 effective March 1, 2026 (from $385). The recommended resident mix used for budgeting was an average daily census of 65 Medicaid, 11 Medicare and 16 private-pay residents.
On the expense and capital side, the facility planned a set of capital purchases and maintenance items instead of major staffing reclassifications. The recommended budget included: - Smart lifts and equipment replacements (roughly $19,764) to reduce staff injuries and workers-comp costs; - Crestcor kitchen heating units ($25,000) and a $40,000 roof replacement project addressing issues at the 2013-built wing; - Smaller capital purchases (about $85,000) for mattresses, floor scrubbers, scheduling software and a wireless access build-out to support medical charting and visitor connectivity.
Staffing and contract labor Rockhaven requested several personnel changes, including converting a 0.5 administrative professional to a full FTE and a set of clinical reclassifications based on a Health Dimensions Group review. County administration did not recommend those personnel reclassifications in the 2026 budget, citing the need to first demonstrate a sustained reduction in contract staff usage and stabilize payroll. County and facility managers noted contract nursing labor has been a significant expenditure and that filling vacant budgeted payroll positions remains the primary strategy to reduce contract-labor costs.
Budget bottom line Administration recommended a reduction in Rockhaven27s tax levy support compared with the prior year; the recommended levy and bottom-line figures were provided in departmental materials and will be finalized as part of the overall county budget.
Questions from supervisors Supervisors asked about the robustness of the revenue assumptions (noting federal and state reimbursement rates can change) and whether the budget includes contingencies if reimbursement rates are reduced. Staff said mid-year budget adjustments could follow if federal or state reimbursement policies change and reiterated a concurrent effort to strengthen marketing and reduce reliance on contracted staff.
Ending: County staff and Rockhaven managers will continue operational work to reduce contract staffing costs and will return to committees if revenue or reimbursement conditions change.
