Martha T. Berry facility reports 97% occupancy, cites Medicaid audit and staffing challenges

The Martha T. Berry county medical care facility told Macomb County commissioners it is operating at a higher-than-average census, has improved to a four-star rating, and is pursuing appeals after a Medicaid audit review that staff say has disallowed roughly $700,000.

"The average right now is 95.8, but today we're at a little over 97%; we have 211," the facility representative (identified in the record as Kevin) said in the Health and Human Services Committee presentation. He said inspectors and an attorney have called the facility a "unicorn" because it is one of the few facilities with more than 150 beds consistently above 90% occupancy.

Kevin told commissioners the facility is addressing two audit items: an appeal of a roughly $700,000 disallowance that staff say related to how refunded bond proceeds were applied, and a separate $300,000 denial of payment; "We're working on that right now on that appeal," he said.

On infrastructure, the facility reported the installation of PTAC units with HEPA filters in all rooms at a cost a little over $300,000 and said it received a $250,000 grant from MPHI (Michigan Public Health Institute) to offset that work. The presenter also said elevator specifications are being developed with a consultant and that rooftop unit replacement will proceed under county bid policy. With millage funding, the facility expects to add CDC-recommended air-scrubbing and ultraviolet systems and to realize energy-efficiency savings.

Kevin described workforce challenges: the facility has about 329 staff and reported roughly 20 current openings. He said the mix of full-time and part-time employment changed after COVID (now about 60% full-time), and the facility uses overtime and some agency staff when necessary. He described a "temp-to-hire" program with agencies where temporary workers can be hired after 13 weeks.

Commissioners moved to receive and file the presentation by unanimous voice vote (13–0). The facility said it will continue working on audits and provide updates as appeals progress.