Board discusses Sauk County home receivership and broader concerns about Medicaid changes

Board members discussed developments at a neighboring county's nursing home and expressed concern about broader policy changes to Medicaid that could affect long-term-care providers.

Board members said Aria Healthcare will not take over a Sauk County home at this time and that the Sauk County facility had gone into receivership. One board member said the Sauk County home had lost administrators and staff and that some residents had been transported away. "So Aria Healthcare is no longer taking over at this point," a staff speaker said, adding there were upset staff and losses of administrative personnel at that facility.

The discussion turned to the larger market for long-term care. A board member raised the coming 2027 Medicaid changes and uncertainty about eligibility and program rules. "And it's hard to imagine they're gonna do this draconian change that's gonna devastate so many people," a board member said, adding that timing around elections and implementation could influence the outcome and the reaction among providers.

Board members compared county-run facilities with corporate-owned homes, noting that counties may provide more operational stability. The meeting did not record any formal action related to the Sauk County facility or a request to accept transferred residents; staff said they had not received any formal transfer requests.

Members asked staff to monitor the situation, including potential resident transfers and any county or state actions regarding the Sauk County facility, and to report back if transfer requests or other formal matters arise.