Next week, Cumberland County Commissioners should vote on awarding the contract for renovations to Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the county’s nursing home. The renovations would turn unused buildings into a state-of-the-art, short-term rehab center.
The short-term rehab center would bring in about 39 temporary residents recovering from procedures like hip replacements and knee surgery. The additional revenue is expected to help keep the home from going broke. Currently, Claremont receives 80 percent of its funding from Medicaid. But Medicaid funds have been flat while expenses have risen. Because the home receives no funding from the county’s general fund, Claremont has dipped into its own reserves in recent years as needed.
Bids came in below the projected costs of $2.2 million to $2.4 million in renovations. Commissioners may award the bid on Monday. Claremont recently received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the highest rating that CMS awards.