Last month, a director at two local nursing facilities owned by a Rockland County resident,
Bent Philipson, emailed County Executive Dan McCoy to notify him of Philipson's interest in buying the county-owned home.
Philipson has ownership interests in two dozen nursing facilities around the state, including three in the Capital Region, and is listed as executive management partner of
Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on Long Island.
The email, a copy of which was viewed by the
Times Union, came as
McCoy's administration was several months into negotiations with another Rockland County firm,
Upstate Service Group, to lease the facility for at least 10 years.
But the deal with USG, which includes $18 million in loans and grants from the county in an effort to achieve longer-term savings, has run into sharp resistance. Some county lawmakers don't believe the county should get out of the nursing home business at all.
The future of the USG offer remains uncertain. McCoy's administration hoped to have lawmakers approve it this month, but the legislature has held up action, citing unanswered questions. The delays have cast doubt as to whether McCoy's hoped-for July 1 hand-off date can be met.
Meanwhile, Philipson's Jan. 23 overture has received no response from the county, said
Shannon McHale, director of human resources and fiscal services at
Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in
Niskayuna and Diamond Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Troy, both of which are owned by Philipson.
Philipson bought the nursing facilities, along with
Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Greenbush, in August 2010. They were formerly known as the
Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Centers.
"I would have thought that I would have received some sort of response," McHale said. "He doesn't have the detail at this point that he would need to put an offer together, but he certainly wants to see the information."
McCoy's spokeswoman,
Mary Rozak, said it would have been improper for the county to respond.
"Albany County is currently in formal negotiations with Upstate Service Group," Rozak said in a statement. "It would not be appropriate to address any other inquiries at this point."
McCoy, who argued for the continuance of the county-run facility as a legislator, floated the privatization plan in October in hopes of ending millions in losses at the 250-bed nursing home while still ensuring that the county's sickest and most frail residents would receive care.
Legislature Chairman
Shawn Morse, a fellow Democrat, said Thursday that McCoy had not shared news of the offer with him.
"All I can say is, he should send his letters to everybody, everybody who has a stake in it, and we'll take a look at it," Morse said.
Last year the county sought offers to buy the four-decade-old nursing home off Albany Shaker Road but received none. While one proposal was submitted to privatize its management, the county took no action on it.
It was after that McCoy opened lease talks with USG, which is in the process of buying Onondaga County's nursing home. It also owns Hudson Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Northern Boulevard in Albany.
The union representing the largest number of county nursing home workers, 1199SEIU, has a presence in all three local facilities owned by Philipson. The union has argued — so far unsuccessfully — that USG be required to honor the union contract if the lease deal is approved. The contract ends Dec. 31.
Union spokeswoman
Mindy Berman described the 1199SEIU's dealings with the local Philipson facilities as positive.
"Our hope is that the legislature will look carefully at every offer that is out there and make sure that all the appropriate needs are met," she said.
