Government

Three Gov’t Care Facilities Not Ready for CMS Certification; 19 Residents Housed Off-Island, Fixes Could Cost Up to $14M

None of the territory’s three government-operated residential care facilities is adequately prepared to undergo initial certification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, according to health officials, as an aging population increases demand for services that the Virgin Islands cannot currently provide in sufficient numbers. The shortage has forced the Department of Human Services to place 19 residents outside the territory. Five clients are receiving care at Casa de Salud in Puerto Rico at an annual cost of $489,000, while another 14 Medicaid-eligible residents are housed at the Pines Nursing Home in Miami. Officials told the Senate Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks on Friday that correcting deficiencies at existing facilities and preparing them for CMS certification could cost approximately $8.5 million to $14 million and require a coordinated effort lasting 12 to 18 months. U.S. Census estimates show that approximately 21.3 percent of the territory’s popul...