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An ordinance to require a resolution of the Metropolitan Council prior to discontinuing operations at the J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility.
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WHEREAS, the truest measure of any of any society can be found in how it treats its old, its poor, its weak, and its helpless; and
WHEREAS, the City of Nashville has a long and proud history of providing care and comfort to our most vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, the sale of J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility (“Knowles”) and its campus did not occur pursuant to Ordinance No. BL2014-688, as amended; and
WHEREAS, Knowles is currently operated by AnthemCare Tennessee LLC, a private operator; and
WHEREAS, no long term plan has been provided for the continued existence of Knowles; and
WHEREAS, the Council desires to continue the care provided by Knowles until a long term plan is reviewed and approved by the Council; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the Metropolitan Government that the important care currently being provided at the J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility continue. Any action that would interrupt care at the facility must be reviewed and approved by the Council.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. “So long as there is a successful bidder pursuant to Metro’s public procurement process, or a current qualified operator willing to provide services in exchange for funding no greater than the most recent budgeted subsidy, all assisted living services being provided to patients and residents at the J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility shall be continued unless the elimination of such assisted living services is approved by the Metropolitan Council by a resolution receiving twenty-one (21) affirmative votes. Likewise, no wind down or other processes or preparations intended to prepare the facility for closure shall occur until 30 days after the affirmative Council vote.
Section 2. The resolution shall be accompanied by a detailed plan for the safe and humane relocation of patients and residents to other locations qualified and willing to accept the same. The plan shall be made available to residents and their families in accordance with applicable state law.
Section 3. While it is the intent of the Metropolitan Council that the J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility operate on the revenues by the assisted living services provided with no subsidy from the Metropolitan Government’s general fund, the Council intends to continue to provide a subsidy sufficient to bring per-patient revenue for Davidson County residents living at Knowles Home in line with per-patient revenue at comparable non-profit assisted living facilities in Davidson County until a long term plan is reviewed and approved by the Council.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance, as substituted, would require all assisted living services being provided to patients and residents at the J.B. Knowles Home Assisted Living Facility to be continued unless the elimination of such services is approved by the Metropolitan Council by a resolution receiving 21 affirmative votes, so long as there is a successful bidder pursuant to Metro’s public procurement process or a current qualified operator is willing to provide services in exchange for funding no greater than the most recent budgeted subsidy. Likewise, no wind down or other processes or preparations intended to prepare this facility for closure could occur until 30 days after the affirmative Council vote. The ordinance further provides that, while the Council intends the services provided by the facility to be continued with no subsidy, the Council intends to continue a subsidy sufficient to bring per-patient revenue for Davidson County residents living at Knowles Home in line with per-patient revenue at comparable non-profit assisted living facilities in Davidson County until a long term plan is reviewed and approved by the Council.
The Knowles Home Assisted Living and Adult Day Services facility is currently operated by Anthemcare Tennessee LLC under a contract with Metro. The Anthemcare contract was entered into in June of 2018 for a two year period, but the contract was extended in 2020 for one year with a new expiration date of June 14, 2021.