The LaSalle County Nursing Home and VAC Committee voted Nov. 3 to forward to the full board a recommendation to contract with Renewal Rehab, a therapy provider based in Lincolnwood, Illinois.

Kathy Steins, staff member, told the committee that three proposals were received and Renewal Rehab was chosen because “they cover our area extensively” and because “their proposal was extremely organized.” Steins said she was impressed by the representative who met the committee and that the company implemented requested contract changes within 24 hours.

Steins said the therapy provider will not charge a single flat fee. “It’s based off of how many people are doing therapy at the nursing home and how many units of therapy, which is usually minutes of therapy that they're actually participating in. Then they will bill us. We will pay them just like we do currently, and then we will bill out to the insurance and recoup that money,” she said. She also said the company will provide services Monday through Friday and will begin Dec. 1.

The motion to forward the recommendation was moved by Bill Brown and seconded by Nancy Urich. The committee took a roll-call vote: Kathy Owens, aye; Doug Stockley, absent; Matt Slager, aye; Ron Blue, aye; Bill Brown, aye; Nancy Urich, aye. The motion passed, and Steins said she will circulate the documents to the full board.

The committee did not vote on a final contract at the meeting; the item will proceed to the full board for final action.