Staff at Festus Manor say they hope the nursing and rehabilitation center at 627 Westwood Drive regains the Medicare and Medicaid agreements it lost in November and rebuilds the facility’s clientele.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a public notice that said as of Nov. 23, it was terminating the agreement between the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services and Festus Manor as a skilled nursing facility in the Medicare program. The notice further stated that the Festus Manor agreement as a nursing facility with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was also to be terminated on Nov. 23.
The notice also said federal financial participation was ceasing for any Medicaid residents at Festus Manor within 30 days of the end of the agreement, meaning Dec. 23.
The facility is licensed as a 150 bed facility. At the time of the CMS notice, Festus Manor had 142 clients, and as of Dec. 31, it had six, said Amber Zykan-Finkelstein, the facility’s administrator.
Festus Manor will seek reinstatement of its Medicare and Medicaid agreements as soon as possible, she added.
“We can reapply for certification in six months,” Zykan-Finkelstein said. “We absolutely intend to file for recertification through CMS.
“We will make it through. We will make it to the other side.”
Zykan-Finkelstein said the CMS notice was an unpleasant surprise.
“We passed our revisit and cleared everything they asked for,” she said. “We fulfilled all of our responsibilities.”
CMS did not respond for a request for comment.
However, in response for the request for comment on the status of Festus Manor, a state Department of Health and Senior Services spokesperson repeated the information stated in the CMS public notice and added, “DHSS’ Section for Long-Term Care Regulation, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, and the facility ownership/administration have been meeting regularly on the discharge of residents.”
Zykan-Finkelstein said her staff has helped relocate Festus Manor clients, adding that it was emotional for clients and staff members.
“We had to discharge 136 people in 30 days,” she said. “We know where they are. They call us and cry to come back.”
Zykan-Finkelstein said Festus Manor remains open for “personal pay” clients.
A couple of the remaining clients spoke highly of the facility.
“I get great treatment,” said Will Peterson, 88, a Festus Manor resident since February 2024. “You hit the buzzer for the light to come on (asking for assistance) and the nurse will be right there. You don’t have to wait like I did at other places.
“I’ve got two sons and one was bound and determined to get me out of here. I said, ‘You take care of yourself and I’ll take care of me.’”
Paula Koch, 59, of Lemay said she is a temporary resident at Festus Manor while she goes through rehabilitation.
“I’ve been here two months,” she said. “I’m someone who has, unfortunately, been in several nursing homes. This is the best nursing home ever. The people, everyone – staff, other workers, therapists – have been wonderful.
“I was having a problem walking because of what I’ve been dealing with. They had to work with me to stand. I now can actually walk with a walker.”