News
- Published on: 5/14/2018
The York County Board of Commissioners agreed to sell Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at its May 2 regular business meeting. The board voted 2-1, with Commissioner Doug Hoke dissenting. The board then voted unanimously to sell Pleasant Acres to Premier Health Care Management for $30.8 million. This sale includes the county Annex building and the Elm Springs independent living units.
Through this process, the county has found a qualified skilled nursing home operator that will match or exceed the current care at Pleasant Acres. The commissioners have found this in Premier.
In addition to the cash offer for the home and its facilities, Premier has extended free rent to the county for the Annex building through Dec. 31, 2020, a contribution of $500,000 to match the county’s $500,000 contribution to develop an endowment for Pleasant Acres residents. The endowment will subsidize a resident support fund used for emergency and designated needs for Pleasant Acres residents. This perpetual fund will be overseen by a soon-to-be created advisory board.
Premier has also committed $4.2 million in capital improvements to Pleasant Acres such as new medical equipment and supplies, IT upgrades like wireless internet, an enhanced dining experience as well as building improvements including air conditioning for the therapy gym and barbershop.
As part of the acquisition, Premier will keep current residents in the facility, provide first admission preference to York County residents and maintain at least an 80 percent Medicaid census.
“Premier was chosen because they embrace the mission, shared values and family culture of Pleasant Acres,” said President Commissioner Susan Byrnes on behalf of the board. “They have a history and record of providing quality and excellence in person-centered care and services.”
An estimated closing date is anticipated in July. Premier’s commitments will be memorialized with a forthcoming contract. Premier will meet with Pleasant Acres employees and residents to conduct town hall meetings before closing on the property. Premier will also join county officials and Pleasant Acres administrators Thursday for a joint news conference at a time and location to be determined.
“We are excited and confident Pleasant Acres will continue to carry on with its mission of delivering care and services to York County residents, said Lisa Sofia, CEO of Premier. “We will be spending time at the facility, getting to know the residents and staff. We will work very hard so that they no longer have to worry about the unknown. We welcome with open arms all the current residents, future residents and staff. We, along with the leadership of Pleasant Acres, are committed to a seamless and uninterrupted transition of services.”
Premier has bought four other county-owned nursing facilities – Armstrong, Schuylkill, Butler and Washington counties – in Pennsylvania, some of which were in financial distress and have since improved. In its past transitions, Premier has hired more than 95 percent of incumbent employees.
Premier has stated its intention to continue Kountry Kids Daycare, the child daycare program. Under its new ownership, the facility will continue to retain Pleasant Acres as part of its future branding.