Rehab center may lose options
Published: 2010-07-04 18:30:44By: MELANIE MOORE | Morning News | March 23, 2010
BLACKFOOT — The skilled nursing facility at Bingham Memorial Hospital may lose payment options through Medicare and Medicaid if he facility fails to come into compliance with federal guidelines.
Bingham Memorial Skilled Nursing Facility and Rehabilitation Center must pass a final visit from the Idaho Bureau of Facility Standards to maintain its contracts with Medicare and Medicaid. If not, Medicare and Medicaid programs will not pay for skilled nursing facility services for patients admitted on or after April 7, according to a legal notice from the Department of Health and Human Services in today’s newspaper. The notice only applies to the skilled nursing facility and does not impact other areas of Bingham Memorial Hospital.
Hospital officials believe they have remedied the deficiencies and are now in compliance. They expect another inspection to occur before April 7.
“We have prepared and are ready to pass the next inspection. We will continue to provide stellar service to our senior population.” Judy Moore, administrator of the skilled nursing facility, and Louis Kraml, CEO of Bingham Memorial, said in a joint statement.
The skilled nursing facility and the state inspectors both strive to ensure that each resident in the facility is able to have a safe and comfortable stay, Director of Public Relations Paul Kotter said. The facility continues to care for patients and is still accepting new patients.
The facility administrators have been working with Western Healthcare, a consulting company, to come into compliance.
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