Because Democrats Care!

Parkhouse (short-term rehab and long-term care) sits on 280 pristine open-space acres in Upper Providence Township. A Five Star rated facility with 467 beds and over 50 years’ experience in meeting adult and senior needs.  Democrat County Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards put feelers out to sell Parkhouse back in February, without consulting Upper Providence. 

A meeting held on October 8 was a sales pitch, pure and simple. 

The County rolled out the results of the "Working Group's" evaluation of the alleged 10 submissions to the Request for Proposals to buy Parkhouse, recommending that the County sell to Mid-Atlantic Healthcare. The "Public Information Session" consisted of what could best be described as carefully choreographed testimony from each of the nine members of the working group, singing the praises of Mid-Atlantic (some were even "moved to tears"). Throughout the testimony, the "transparency" of the County's process was heralded by just about every member of the working group.  Who made up this group?  Why, 100% County employees!  Jody Holton made it a point to testify that the County had been in for numerous talks with Upper Providence and that their concerns were being addressed. 

Lisa Mossie of the Upper Providence Board of Supervisors stood up to protest this blatant lie and said there was no reason to sell Parkhouse. 

Then, on October 17, without resident input, Shapiro and Richards pushed through their plan to sell Parkhouse. They cited a very nice experience on their scheduled dog and pony show and how nice the facility smelled. No one, at any time, has mentioned the financial health or viability of Mid-Atlantic as a going concern. 

Scott Rifkin and Mid-Atlantic currently manage 14 elder care homes; 7 of which have been acquired within the last 2 years at a cost of $106 million--this is BEFORE they pay the $39 million they've agreed to pay Montco for Parkhouse. When the County cites the fact that Parkhouse loses $2 million a year (on a $47 million operation), how does Mid-Atlantic propose to make a profit when they are taking over a losing operation AND they are promising to keep the quality of care the same and all of the employees salaries and seniority the same AND pay the debt service on the debt they are incurring? Scott Rifkin claims he can do it just by joining a group purchasing organization. This, quite frankly, is BS.

Scott Rifkin, despite his protestations of "not being a political guy" ran for democratic state senator in Maryland a few years back. His brother is a big time Washington lobbyist. Scott Rifkin has also been the head of at least two failed companies in the last 20 years, both of which went under after a period of rapid and aggressive expansion---very similar to what Mid-Atlantic is undergoing right now.

Apparently all of the nurses that are staying at Parkhouse under Mid-Atlantic will have to incur a 25% to 50% increase in their personal health insurance costs.  Hey, wait a second: Shapiro said Mid-Atlantic would maintain salary and seniority levels and that benefits also should not change drastically!

I suspect that the last thing the County wants is an opportunity for public comment on this sale before it is finalized. I also suspect that the reason for this is twofold: 

First, the sale of the assisted living center under the previous administration was a public relations horror show and this administration is desperate to avoid a repeat nightmare, so they have taken measures to carefully choreograph a very convincing kabuki theater of happiness and unicorns surrounding the sale. This process has in fact been hermetically sealed and incestuous: every member of the "working group" answers ultimately to Shapiro and Richards. Curiously, not a single local paper has written an op-ed about the sale.

The second reason I believe that the County wants to keep the public out of this and why they are pursuing an aggressive timeline for the sale: because of Josh Shapiro's future ambitions. The County just recently sold the Logan Square Shopping center (once the site of the infamous "Studio Centre in Norristown") to the developer for $8,000. Total dollars expended on that corner in the name of "Norristown Revitalization" were somewhere around $65 million; $37 million of which was the developers buy-in and $24.5 million was financed by the county. The County got $8,000 in its coffers after the sheriff's sale to offset the $24.5 million they still owe. While I challenge you to find me $65 million in that corner (they didn't even do any road improvements!) I also point out that after paying off Parkhouse debt of $8 million, the county will be left with $31 million from the sale which will fill that hole in their budget rather nicely.   

Yesterday, Chief Financial Officer Uri Z. Monson projected that the county will end the year with an operating surplus in excess of $540,000.  “We are adding to the fund reserves, not subtracting from it as has been the past practice,” said Commissioner Chairman Josh Shapiro, noting that the buildup of the fund reserve and the operating surplus required a “lot of discipline” throughout the year.  Shapiro will be able to run for governor statewide on the fact that he balanced the Montco budget in less than two years and all with public support, since any controversy on this deal has been squashed. It is not too late for Shapiro to declare his intent to run for governor against Corbett in 2014.  

Last week, Shapiro called for more state dollars for public schools “to provide an educated, skilled and trained workforce ... for the county’s continued economic growth." Yet while Gov. Corbett was providing a record amount of state funding for public schools, Shapiro slashed funding for the Montgomery County Community College by 30% in violation of the legislative funding formula for community colleges — one-third state, one-third county and one-third student — and also directly impacted the ability of students to afford community college, becoming trained, skilled workers in our County.  Hypocrisy?  

The $2 million loss every year that the county is whining about is more BS, by the way. Parkhouse is simply a service the County provides for its residents, like MHMR services, county jail, deed recording, etc. None of those services "makes" money and Parkhouse is not intended to be a profit center for the County. And the whining about the upkeep of the facility is more BS; they can always find $20 million or more for "economic development" in Norristown. Isn't that in fact what they are calling the $20 million project on Lafayette Street right now?

By the way, it is especially rich that both Josh and Leslie cited the uncertainty of Obamacare as a reason to sell Parkhouse. A bold statement coming from a couple of Democrats, yes?  Think about it.  Could ANY Republican get away with balancing the budget on the backs of Montgomery County's most vulnerable: the low to moderate income aging population and young people struggling to make it? Would the press not crucify the Republican?

Parkhouse has a high number of Medicaid beds to care for the neediest and most vulnerable citizens.  The Archdiocese is selling some of its nursing home facilities.  This means fewer places available for these people to finish out their lives.  Home care and community living is great: but facing facts, there must always be a place for those without means.  The financial challenges of Parkhouse were overstated and used as a tool to sell off the building and land, with an understated impact on human lives.  How Montgomery County treats its elderly is a vital measurement. 

I have some questions for Commissioners Shapiro and Richards:

1.    Is there a condition that the facility must remain a nursing home?  If so, for how long?  What are the consequences if it does not abide by the condition?

2.    Is there a condition that the facility must maintain a certain number of Medicaid beds?  If so, for how long?  What are the consequences if it does not abide by the condition?

3.    What are the potential development possibilities for the land?  Are their limitations?

4.    Will the new entity have the ability to sell any of the land to another developer?

5.    Why does the land need to be sold?  Could the Commission not seek a private enterprise to manage the County-owned facility versus outright owning it?

6.    Why was there zero outside representation on the committee that reviewed the proposals?  All members were County employees, most of them new to the County.

7.    Why were the Upper Providence Township Supervisors not consulted at all during the decision process?

8.    Parkhouse has a five-star reputation.  What are the consequences if Mid-Atlantic fails to maintain these standards, and who from County will take responsibility for measuring those standards?

9.    If the County sells the land, what will become of the unmarked graves within it?

The matter comes up before the Upper Providence Planning Commission, this Wednesday evening, 7 PM, at Upper Providence Township Hall, 1286 Black Rock Road in Oaks.

The item up for discussion is a subdivision of the Parkhouse parcel at route 113.  The Planning Commission probably won't have any grounds to deny the subdivision, but this is the first and possibly only opportunity for public comment on the sale before it is finalized.  The County has desperately tried to avoid public comment on this and asked Upper Providence’s Supervisors to approve this without the formal subdivision process. 

I plan on attending.