(Atlantic) The Cass County Board of Supervisors are faced with a decision on what do to with the County owned building south of Atlantic which is now known as Willow Heights.
The future of the facility remains in question. Supervisors Chairman Steve Baier says, “That’s the $64,000 question. We do have one entity that has had some informal discussions with us, but I know they are taking a hard look at the finances to see if it could work. There continues to be a need for places for housing people with various types of mental issues and it’s a fluid situation right now.”
Baier explains Partnership for Progress is placing residents of the residential care facility in the community. “The plan by Partnership for Progress is to have the residents there placed elsewhere by November 1st. Partnership for Progress will continue to lease it through the end of the year if need be.”
Baier says the decision is driven by the economics of how they are reimbursed by regional, state, and local funds. They receive about $100 a day per resident at the 43 bed facility. “The push right now especially from the federal government, but also the state government is to use Medicaid funds to help boost that amount for residents that can be placed in community based residences which essentially means they are going to rent houses and place four or five residents with someone that is a certified caretaker.”
