BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — The crucial decision to permanently shut down Weinberg Campus' Rosa Coplon Living Center in Getzville is up to the New York State Department of Health.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health announced it had approved the closure plan for the living facility submitted by Weinberg Campus in August.
Weinberg Campus said it will close on November 30, 2024, or when the last resident is discharged, whichever comes first. You can watch our previous report below and read more here.
Friday Dr. Jim McDonald, the state health commissioner, visited Buffalo to answer some questions about the facility’s future and revealed the financial troubles the current operators have incurred.
“My main concern is the health and safety of the residents at Rosa Coplon,” declared Dr. McDonald.
A full shutdown is slated for November 30. However, the health leader hopes either a receivership or new ownership application is made for the center.
"I’m also here to make it clear that this administration agrees on the importance of preserving nursing home beds at Rosa Coplon in the long term,” McDonald explained.
The health commissioner said they are willing to work with a qualified applicant who steps forward.
I asked McDonald if he had met with the leader of Lineage Care Group.
“I did meet with Chris from Lineage,” replied McDonald. “I don't think we should assume they're going to be the ones who take over, though. You know, I think this is one thing that's really important is what we're looking for is someone who actually owns and operates nursing homes. that's what we're looking for, is someone who owns and operates a nursing home, and one that does it well.”
But McDonald's also revealed major financial troubles under the current operators.
“I'm deeply concerned about the lack of sound financial management at Rosa Coplon,” McDonald explained. “There’s some rudimentary things one expects when you're running a healthcare facility's finances. These were lacking.”
The health department already provided more than $5 million in financial relief to Rosa Coplon, as it has had financial issues for a decade.
"After Weinberg recently advised that they were unable to make payroll, the board president, the majority of board members resigned. Let me just say that again, during their darkest hour, the board president and the majority of the board members resigned,” reflected McDonald.
McDonald also noted there are three judgments against the nursing facility.
“There was a lien placed under bank accounts. Their accounts were frozen because of a judgment against them, one of three judgments against them this summer. So, what we were faced with was the possibility that the residents might have,” remarked McDonald. “This is simply an unacceptable risk to these elderly, vulnerable residents of Rosa Coplon.”
According to the state health commissioner, three judgments filed in the state supreme court are for $400,000, $800,000, and $13,000.
"It’s one thing to not pay your bills, but to have a judgment against you that is hard,” stated McDonald.
The health commissioner also confirmed there are “active complaints” and an “active investigation” against the facility and his department has had conversations with the attorney general’s office.
“We are just glad that the Department of Health is now considering the request for receivership, and that it is not set in stone that the campus has no future,” remarked Grace Bogdanove, vice president, of 1199SEIU.
While the state health department commissioner appeared in Buffalo, union members are also demanding answers for their health care workers.
“I’m just glad that they're paying attention now. It's devastating that it took this to get us to really take a look at Weinberg Campus, but more importantly, receivership is on the table now and that means we have hope at re-stabilizing,” Bogdanove noted.
The health commissioner pledged they would find a new operator but warned it would take time.
“We are committed to finding a new operator if one comes forward,” stated McDonald. “This is not something that will be done quickly, but it will be done expeditiously."
Earlier this week, elected officials joined residents, families, and workers to call on the New York State Department of Health to "save" the Rosa Coplon Living Center. You can watch our report below and read more here.
The difficult process of moving patients out of this long-term care center is already underway. The 130-patient facility is down to just 39 clients.
Earlier this week we spoke to the daughter of a Weinberg Campus resident who is struggling to find a new home for her dad. You can watch our previous report below and read more here.
