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State School Hiring, Construction Has BegunPictured is one of three new units under construction on the east grounds of Glenwood State Hospital-School. The funds for the construction will be provided through the Title 19, or Medicaid, program.Glenwood State Hospital-School will receive an estimated $6 million per year though the Title 19, or Medicaid, federal funding program.The funds will be used to improve the services of the school, including staffing, new housing and placement planning for residents,THE GLENWOOD facility and Woodward State Hospital-School were notified last week that they had been approved for the funding.In order to remain certified and to continue to receive the monthly funds, the schools are obligated to alleviate problems set forth in a survey conducted through the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.Iowa had been one of only three states that did not receive Medicaid funds.Asst. Supt. of Residential Services Ron Bales said that interest in applying for certification within the program began in 1972. A joint commission, after a study of the Glenwood facility, issued a list of three areas that needed improvement.BALES SAID that Gov. Robert Ray and the general assembly in the state legislature were supportive of the plan of improvement, but it was not pursued due to the substantial increase in state appropriations that would be necessary to carry out the program.At that time, the Title 19 program was not available forfacilities caring for the mentally retarded.“However, four important changes in federal legislation governing the medical assistance program occurred in 1974 and 1975,“ Bales said. “And this prompted the Department of Social Services and Glenwood State School to reevaluate the potential of the Title 19 program.Bales said these changes included mental retardation care in the funding program for the first time.BALES STRESSED that the improvements, including the hiring of more than 400 new employes, will not utilize state funds.The money will be used on a 57-43 basis, he said. For every S100 coming into the institution, 57 per cent will remain there for improvements and 43 per cent will go to the stale treasury for future use. This will insure that state allocations will freeze at the present rate.The amount of funds is determined by the number of patients qualifying for the program. Currently, 94 per cent of the 807 patients qualify.Assistant Supt. of Administration and Support Services Larry Kruse explained that the amount can increase or decrease as the residential population fluctuates.He said that the first allotment, for the month of January, will be rccived this month.THE SCHOOL has a deadline of March, 1977, to alleviate the problems outlined in the survey. However, Bales said the guidelines may be changed and the deadline coufd be stretched.“It will be a tough struggle to get this all done by March. 1977, he said. He pointed out that the two Iowa facilities have considerably less time to prove themselves worthy of certification than states joining the program when it began nine years ago.THE MOST dramatic change the program calls for will be the hiring of up to 460 people. Bales commented that it would be unlikely that the school actually hire that number. “Frankly, I don't feel we need that many. That's just the number that was arrived at.“Though there are a potential 460 positions to be filled, staffing requirements may be met before that number is hired, he said.The number of new employes needed was determined on a fluctuating ratio scale. The patient employe ratio changeswithin the units. For insl;mlt;_lt;\ direel care, which has a low patient-employe ratio. will receive the majority of the new employes.Supportive services, such as maintenance, custodial, dietary and laundry services, v. ill receive approximately 100 new employes.The professional staff will receive the fewest additions. Bales said two new doctors will be needed to achieve the proper ratio in the professional area.BALES MAINTAINS that the funding will be a boon to Glenwood and surrounding areas, due largely to the additional workforce payroll coming into the area.He also predicts the housing business will benefit by I head ditional employes.He acknowledges. Vtowe,,e«-that a problem may develop for employes wanting immediate housing. “Housing is pretty tight now. 1 guess. Rentals arc running nearly 100 per cent.The vacancies are beginning to be filled now, Bates said. Most of the applicants are from Glenwood and the surroundinu areas. The school is working with the Iowa Stale Employment Office and the satellite office in Glenwood to locate prospects.Bales said that applications are running better than anticipated and he doesn't foresee any problem in finding the extra personnel.TO ALLEVIATE the second problem outlined in the survey, inferior housing for patients, more than 20 residential units will be constructed. Three units are currently under con si ruction on the west grounds and should be completed In .hitie.Contracts for ten additional units should be drawn up h\ August 1. Kruse stated.
Newspaper Details
Opinion Tribune
Glenwood, Iowa, US
Wed, Feb 04, 1976
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Tallgrass A.
USA 24 Jul 2024
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