OCHD Integrated Campus-The Goal is ZERO Dollar Contribution!
By Garth Webster
In July, Oneida Comprehensive Health Division (OCHD) Director Debra Danforth, along with her healthcare team (shown in the photo), hosted a meeting to update the community regarding their $122 Million Dollar Capital Improvement Project (CIP) for the Integrated Campus (IC) Health Clinic. Before sharing the update, Danforth made the following announcements.
- Pharmacy Director, Dennis Reckelberg is working to implement a curb-side pickup service during 2025.
- The Home Health Services team, led by Brenda Haen, recently achieved Accreditation.
- Three new providers have recently joined OCHD: Internal Medicine Dr. Alan James, Physician Assistant Maggie Hujet and Thanmayi Kaza will become Medical Director for the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community.
- Danforth expressed her gratitude to all the OCHD Summer interns and youth workers: Jack Stensloff (Carroll University), Taliyah Ninham (Green Bay Southwest High School), Isaiah Powless (Juniata College), Kevin House Jr (University of Wisconsin – Green Bay), Kateri Wheelock (Marquette University), Shawneen Risler (Lakeland University), Katie Schwarzbauer (University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh), Matt Cincotta (University of New England), Diahanna King (University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point), Kyah Stitman (Green Bay Southwest High School), Tyler Martin (University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point), and McKenna Metoxen (University of Wisconsin – Madison).
Danforth began the update by sharing the history of Oneida Health Center to affirm the need for the proposed Integrated Campus project. The Health Center on the corner of E & EE opened in 1978 with 45 employees. They quickly outgrew the 28,000 square-foot space, and thus, they added trailers in the parking lot to house additional services. In 2002, the current health center opened with 67,000 square feet, instead of the original 115,000 requested due to budgetary constraints. By the time they moved into the existing facility, they had already surpassed their 15-year forecast for patient visits, which had already reached 175,000 per year.
Although the projections for the current proposed IC Project are not yet complete, Danforth urges the community to support this project so they can achieve their healthcare mission and goals for the Oneida Community. Danforth emphasized another goal for the project to be funded with zero dollars of contribution, which she explained could be accomplished with a variety of options.
The first possible option is securing a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan, which they would pay over a 25-year period. It’s important to note that the $122 million price tag is actually around $80 million because there are existing set asides already approved by the GTC. To pay the balance, there are several possible financial options that can be used to sustain the loan payments. First are 3rd party reimbursements (such as Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance). Second are Incremental Savings already set aside by OCHD for a project like this. Third could be taking advantage of New Market Tax Credits for underserved communities. And a final option that could prove most promising is using Section 105(l) Lease funds, which are available to Tribes for specific uses through the Federal Government. Several other Tribal Nations have already been using Section 105 Leasing to build their facilities.
If you have questions, consider joining us on Wednesday, October 23 at 5:00 p.m. at the Congregate Meal Site at Anna John Resident Centered Care Community for our next community meeting. A light meal will be provided.
Please click here to view the July 23, 2024 OCHD presentation.
08/22/2024
