Rest Haven Home and Hospital in Schuylkill Haven which has experienced a cash flow problem.

Schuylkill County Fiscal Administrator Mark Scarbinsky blamed it on delays from the federal government in payment of Medicare funds. He reported almost all patients receive Medicare.In the 2014 budget the county included an allocation of $500,000 for Rest Haven because in 2013 Rest Haven had borrowed $500.000 but repaid it in December.On Jan. 8, Rest Haven requested and was granted not only the budgeted $500,000 but also to date has received from the county's general fund $1 million in allocations.Paul Buber, county fiscal officer, commented because of the allocations, Rest Haven's current cash balance is healthy but has about $757,801.86 in outstanding bills to be paid vendors as well as amounts owed to the general fund. Buber also noted that there is a difference between a loan and allocation. The loan made to Rest Haven was repaid but allocations are not repaid.Rest Haven's revenue account history over the last 12 years shows in 2003 it received no county contribution but in 2004 it received $975,000. Then from 2005 through 2010 Rest Haven operated under direction of Elaine Schaeffer without requiring county contributions.The financial problems returned in 2011 when the county had to bail out the home by contributing $300,000; in 2012 the contribution was $255,415; and in 2013 and 2014 a total of $500,000 each year. In 2012 the county turned over the business end to be managed by Service Access and Management Inc. which is paid $182,500 quarterly for its services.The hiring of staff people to operate the home is still under county jurisdiction. Another problem is they can fill all 142 beds with only 132 occupied currently.