Mired in a 40-year-old system it no longer feels is effective, the Missouri Veterans Commission is pushing to evolve its nursing homes.
It is currently entertaining bids from third-party contractors to develop a “next-generation operating model,” a commission leader told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Monday.
The winning outside firm will be asked for recommendations on everything from revenue structure and reimbursement opportunities to appropriate census, levels of care and capital improvements.
“MVC is seeking options such as, but not limited to, adult day health care, assisted living, short-term skilled care, short-term palliative care, skilled long-term care, skilled memory care, skilled mental health care, and allowing spouses to admit to MVC facilities,” MVC Public Relations Director Aimee Packard told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
The commission’s request for proposal noted the revenue model MVC is working under hasn’t changed in at least four decades, but senior care clearly has. Veterans at the facilities pay a fixed rate of $2,345 for room and care, meals and other personal care needs, monthly. Talks began last summer about raising that fee.
“While nursing home care is an important part of the elder care continuum, the contractor must explore additional ways to serve veterans,” the RFP noted. “The contractor shall determine how to optimize the next-generation operating model through appropriate case mix, census, staffing and outside resources.”
The commission said in its RFP it wants to maximize federal and state funding to better serve the state’s elder veterans.
The panel is composed of state legislators and appointees of Gov. Mike Parson (R). Like much of the nation, it is challenged by staffing shortages that have limited its seven facilities to half of their capacity despite getting $50 million from the state last July.
The deadline to submit a proposal to MVC is Nov. 8. There is a pre-proposal meeting Oct. 26 for potential bidders.
