Wednesday, April 30, 2003 | 9:13 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Military veterans told a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee Tuesday that the state should continue to operate the Veterans Nursing Home in Boulder City rather than turning it over to a private company.
Lawrence Jacobsen, a former state senator and member of the state Veterans Advisory Committee, said he has visited privately run facilities and "they are more like a prison."
Chuck Fulkerson, director of the state Office of Veterans Services, said that for-profit nursing homes are cheaper but they provide less quality.
Some subcommittee members had asked for information about turning over the home, which has been plagued by various problems, to private industry.
Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said the state should retain control to ensure the safety and care of residents, rather than just worrying about the "bottom line."
The home began accepting patients in August, and 48 veterans are now residing there. Gary Bermeosolo, director of the nursing home, said he will start accepting 10 more veterans a month as soon as the Veterans Administration certifies the home.
He said 12 inspectors from the VA spent three days at the home and did not spot any deficiencies. He said he hopes to get the certification within 60 days so the home can start being reimbursed by the federal government $57 per day per patient.
Some of the other sources of revenue to support the home are Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance and state money.
Bermeosolo said the projected cost per patient is about $150 per day.
Gov. Kenny Guinn recommended a budget of $22.9 million for the home over the next two fiscal years, but Bermeosolo, who has been on the job less than a month, has already reduced the request by $1.2 million.
Bermeosolo said gardening, laundry and housekeeping will be contracted out to private companies at a savings of $400,000 and 41 positions will be reduced in the next two years.
Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, who is an advocate of private industry taking over some government programs, said she has confidence in Bermeosolo and urged him to keep taking steps to ensure the home is run efficiently.
The home was plagued by problems during construction including cost overruns and delays. Bermeosolo is the third administrator in the last year.
The subcommittee delayed approval of the budget until next week to get firm figures on how much can be saved over the next two years.
In other action the subcommittee approved the budget of the state Parole and Probation Division, more than $70 million for the coming two fiscal years.
It decided to eliminate 26 positions, 18 of them vacant for more than six months. This will save $1.2 million each year.
The subcommittee did add $26,000 to the budget to allow normal drug testing of those on parole and probation. This program had been curtailed due to budget cuts last year before it received some supplemental funding.
The subcommittee also approved a $43 million budget for the Ely State Prison and agreed to restore the positions of 14 correctional officers that had been eliminated from the budget by Guinn.
archive
