Wyoming Pioneer Home on the chopping block

by Cindy Glasson

Approximately 125 concerned citizens filled the basement of the Wyoming Pioneer Home last week as the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) once again put the facility on the chopping block to fulfill their budget cuts.

Department of Health Director Tom Forslund addressed the JAC, reminding them the Department of Health oversees five facilities in the State of Wyoming and were asked to cut $90 million from the Department’s budget.

According to Forslund, last year the legislature asked for another $60 million in cuts and now, they are looking at the various facilities under their purview to see where they can make those additional cuts.

Forslund said, when the Pioneer Home began, there were very few private care facilities in the state, but with the onset of Medicare and Medicaid there was a huge burst of beds and private facilities available for citizens to choose from.

What started as a safety net for Wyoming’s elderly is no longer needed because of the amount of space available in privately run facilities.

The Pioneer Home is 65 percent subsidized by the state with 35 percent of the remaining costs covered by revenue gathered from those who live there.

Forslund told the committee the Pioneer Home is in excellent condition and there are many different models available for privatization – who owns the facility and who runs the facility?

The State could continue to own the facility and bring an outside company in to run it, they could sell to another entity to own or operate, or the State could sell it completely.

Because it is on state land, the complete sale may not be possible.

Of course, there is concern about rates going up if privatized and what would happen to the employees, however, Forslund said that could all be handled through contracts.

Representative Albert Sommers from Sublette County questioned Forslund regarding who is staying at the Pioneer Home, wondering what counties are represented among the residents.

At last count, there were 48 people residing at the Pioneer Home with the bulk coming from the Big Horn Basin, 56 percent from Hot Springs County, 12.5 percent from Washakie County and 3 percent from Fremont County.

There are 53 rooms in the facility, which when full, will accommodate 61 elderly residents.

Facility Director Sharon Skiver noted their count is currently 48 residents, reminding the committee the census is quite fluid with some folks moving to rehabilitation or nursing facilities as well as deaths. Skiver added the average stay for residents is four to five years.

Until just recently, Medicaid was not available, however, now the program is helping with reimbursement costs (the Pioneer Home is on a sliding scale for payment), but does not pay for room and board, just medical costs.

That makes the State’s assistance $61.25 per day, per person.

Bringing Medicaid on board has already shown a drop in the amount of reimbursement needed from the state and if everyone in the facility were on Medicaid, the total of the State’s input would drop to about $900,000 per year, a savings of $800,000 a year to the state.

It was questioned whether there were other programs available that could help offset the State’s costs even more, but Forslund said there were not as other programs are mainly nursing home or in-home services based, not assisted living.

For comparison, the Pioneer Home has space for 61 residents and receives $1.7 million per year. The Veteran’s Home of Wyoming (in Buffalo) currently has 76 residents and receives $3.65 million per year.

Hot Springs County Representative Nathan Winters said, “In the future we have to ask ourselves the question, under the current federal legislation, the kind of life a person can enjoy in a place like this. There is no place like this anywhere in the state.

“I watched as the mandates were re-written. I watched while our mandate was canibalized by the Lander facility. Now, what do we do? This is still an important safety net function.

“If we did allow for a better sliding scale, those who can pay more, do. Let’s adjust that first."

Winters went on to tell the committee that yes, half of the residents are from Hot Springs County, but they moved here 10 years ago and are from many other places because they wanted to retire here, making the actual make up of the facility residents much broader than had been represented.

Cheryl Shero, Gottsche’s director, said she wishes she had had the opportunity to speak to the committee previously as she has made recommendations to their clients from other counties for years regarding the Pioneer Home.

“Quite honestly,” Shero said, “this facility has been in turmoil for years, so people don’t want to come here and then turn around and have to leave. This has had a tremendous impact. People have moved here because of our solid reputation, they are invested here.”

Local businesswoman, Karen Sinclair echoed Shero’s sentiments regarding fear.

“This has caused so much anxiety for the residents,” Sinclair said. “I can assure you this is what is happening. So many would have moved in, but they haven’t because of not knowing the future of the facility. Its very concerning for the elderly residents. It was very scary for these residents last year. Do you understand most of these people have sold everything they have just to be here?

“You’re telling us its only feasible if we can make money. It won’t be open long if it is privatized. There will be less staff and they will make less money.”

Dr. Jeb Schenck told the committee they need to ask how privatization will help the indigent.

“None of you look like you’re getting younger,” he said. “This is a worldwide problem – we’re all getting older. The legislation, as proposed, simply kicks the can down the road, it doesn’t solve the problem. Yes, we need stability, but how are other countries handling this same issue?”

Local attorney Mike Messenger heard the word subsidize, and that word bothers him.

“Ask a farmer, a rancher, how much subsidy are you getting,” he said. “I moved my mother here from Cody and it has been wonderful for her. She pays full price and that has gone up four times since she’s been here. But if she were broke, with no one to rely on, then I cannot understand how a private enterprise can keep the door open with no Medicaid subsidy.

“We’ll be back here in a few years after privatizing because the doors will close.”

Former Hot Springs County Representative Mike Baker, who chaired the Joint Appropriations Committee for four years said, “I am asking you to kill the bill because of the angst it causes the people.

“People have moved here from other counties to retire, yet you count them as Hot Springs County residents."

Baker reminded the committee that it was private funds that built the facility.

“Access the Medicaid dollars and help yourselves, please,” he urged. “People will sell their homes, their personal belongings and move in here and use their money up. Everything they have is given to this facility, minus $35 a month.

“You just spent $300 million on the capital, its time to spend it on the people, now.”

The committee voted to move the bill to the full legislature and contain a clause that would include a full study to determine if the proper course of action would be closing the facility.

To view the proposed legislation on the Internet, go to wyoleg.gov/Legislation/committeeBills/2019 and look for “Wyoming Retirement Center and Pioneer Home” under Appropriations.