Roscoe nursing home not closing

ROSCOE, NY — We’ll just say it again: the Roscoe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is not closing, per a letter to families from director Joy Wood.

At Sullivan County’s executive committee meeting on October 22, county attorney Michael McGuire was explaining paperwork that might (or might not) be needed for the Care Center at Sunset Lake. In passing, he referenced the closing of the Roscoe Nursing Home, causing some consternation among the legislators. 

According to Wood’s letter, when the home’s current owner, VestraCare, took over in 2018, the board of directors from the old Roscoe Community Nursing Home had to dissolve the corporation. Any remaining assets had to be given to a local not-for-profit. (VestraCare is for-profit.) 

The board apparently chose SUNY Sullivan to receive at least $250,000 according to a court document first reported by the Sullivan Times. 

The county attorney’s office is involved in the matter due to the bequeath.  

The whole matter was confusing since a quick search of Nursing Home Compare at CMS’ website shows Roscoe Nursing and Rehab to have no violations or fines. 

“Please be assured that the new Roscoe is doing well and VestraCare has no plans on closing Roscoe,” Wood wrote in her letter. “Roscoe continues to be a five-star facility and the only facility in the county that has managed to keep our residents COVID-19 free. We are proud of our standing in the community.”

Another use for the bus

MONTICELLO, NY — Medicaid patients on the MOVE Sullivan route: Do you need to go to treatment? Soon you might be able to take the bus. For free.

At the executive committee meeting on Thursday, October 22, legislators discussed applying to make the MOVE Sullivan bus one of the options for Medicaid transport.

Medicaid will pay for transportation for eligible enrollees that are going to covered services. Medicaid chooses the most “medically appropriate” and the least expensive mode of transportation. 

Note: You have to live on the bus route and will need to use the bus on its normal route. You don’t get a special trip. And transportation has to be approved by Medicaid before you go. 

The county gets reimbursed by Medicaid for qualified trips taken.

The executive committee, and then the full legislature approved, and the application will be submitted.

LDC meetings might be livestreamed

MONTICELLO, NY — There have been weeks of requests in public comment for livestreaming of the LDC board meetings. Commenters say that many interested parties are older and thus vulnerable to the coronavirus, or that folks are at work and can’t attend. 

Discussion commenced at the full Sullivan County Legislature on October 22:

Joe Perrello: Can we stream the LDC meetings?

Question is referred to AnnMarie Martin, clerk of the legislature.

Martin: It’s up to the LDC.

Nadia Rajsz, LDC member: I’ve requested that. 

General legislative murmurs of approval.

Perrello: There you go. See? Reasonable.

Over to you, LDC board!