12-02-2025
Centre County gives nursing home $900,000 in funding, more potentially on the way
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – Centre County officials awarded a local nursing home with close to $1 million in funding, with more potentially on the way.
The commissioners gave Centre Care a $900,000 grant at their recent Feb. 11 meeting. Officials say there is a 'crisis' with Medicaid reimbursement, and that many care facilities are not getting the funding they need. Nursing Home Administrator Andrew Naugle has also seen the trend.
'There's lots of staffing challenges,' Naugle said. 'There's a lot of new staffing regulations that come out that are limiting the amount of residents that facilities can take.'
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The grant comes from the remaining money in the American Rescue Fund. After this, Chair Mark Higgins said the county will have no more money to give to help the broader issue. He is calling for 'residents, businesses and organizations' to also donate to Centre Care so it can stay as a nonprofit.
As for where the money will go, Naugle gave a brief glimpse. He says costs are rising for healthcare, so 'healthcare items' could be in the budget. They primarily want the funding to go towards their Neighbors Supporting Neighbors fund, which helps residents who struggle to pay for services.
The funding is crucial to keeping the facility open. Naugle says there could be closures in the future if they do not get enough funding from 'the community and from individuals like the commissioners.' However, he says they are currently not operating at a deficit.
According to Naugle, if Centre Care hits 'certain milestones,' there will be another $500,000 coming from the county in July. For other nonprofits wanting to get some money from the county, Higgins says the American Rescue Plan fund is empty, and the process would involve 'a lot of lawyers.'
To donate to Centre Care, visit their website.
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