There is a myth that the Chautauqua County Home admits residents, regardless of their ability to pay for services.
In reality, every resident who is admitted into the home has to have a way to cover their expenses, whether they are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, out of pocket, or some combination. And, according to Colleen Wright, County Home financial officer, despite running at high occupancy rates - nearly 98 percent in 2011, the year most recently audited - the home is still losing money.
In fact, according to an income statement provided by Wright for the home for 2011, the home lost more than $39 per resident each day. Multiplied by each of the County Home's 216 beds, the home lost more than $8,400 a day. Even if each day the home is only occupied at 98 percent, the home would still lose more than $8,200 each day on residents.
To read this entire article, visit www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/616480/County-Home-Costs-Add-Up.html.