Buttonwood Healthcare Inc

SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUTTONWOOD HEALTHCARE, INC. HAS WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD, AND AREA NONPROFIT HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICES TO OPEN TWO PREVIOUSLY CLOSED NURSING FACILITIES AS DEDICATED COVID-19 FACILITIES AND TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 AT THE FACILITIES. IT IS THE GOAL OF THE COMPANY TO ADMIT ANY SUCH INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY AND TO PROVIDE NURSING CARE AND SERVICES FOR THE DURATION OF THE PANDEMIC AND UNTIL THE LAST COVID-19 RESIDENT IS SAFELY DISCHARGED FROM ITS FACILITIES. BUTTONWOOD HEALTHCARE, INC. EXPANDED ITS MISSION AND CHARITABLE PURPOSE TO THE PROVISION OF SKILLED NURSING, ADULT DAY HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, HOMECARE, AND ASSISTED LIVING TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT MA.

SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUTTONWOOD HEALTHCARE, INC. HAS WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD, AND AREA NONPROFIT HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICES TO OPEN TWO PREVIOUSLY CLOSED NURSING FACILITIES AS DEDICATED COVID-19 FACILITIES AND TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 AT THE FACILITIES. IT IS THE GOAL OF THE COMPANY TO ADMIT ANY SUCH INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY AND TO PROVIDE NURSING CARE AND SERVICES FOR THE DURATION OF THE PANDEMIC AND UNTIL THE LAST COVID-19 RESIDENT IS SAFELY DISCHARGED FROM ITS FACILITIES. COMPANY ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF A STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL DIRECT CARE AND SUPPORT POSITIONS AND COLLABORATED WITH HAWTHORN MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, AN AREA NONPROFIT, MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICE, FOR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND ADVANCED NURSING CARE SERVICES AT ITS FACILITIES, IN RECOGNITION OF THE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING DRUG ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS OF SOME COVID-19 RESIDENTS. COMPANY ENGAGED COUNSELING SERVICES TO PROVIDE THERAPY AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. COMPANY SWIFTLY PUT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR SUPPLIES (FOOD, PHARMACY, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, OXYGEN, ETC.) AND FOR OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS AMBULANCE, BUILDING SECURITY, AND PHONE/CABLE/INTERNET. COMPANY COLLABORATED WITH THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD TO PROCURE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE STAFF IN THE PROPER USE OF PPE. FACED WITH CONTINUING SHORTAGES, COMPANY ENGAGED NUMEROUS VENDORS TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF PPE.COMPANY ENTERED AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHCOAST HEALTH NETWORK, LLC, (HEREINAFTER SOUTHCOAST) CHARITABLE CORPORATION TO PROVIDE HOSPICE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN NEED OF COMPASSIONATE, END OF LIFE SERVICES. COMPANY COLLABORATED WITH CITY, HAWTHORN, AND SOUTHCOAST TO ANTICIPATE THE SURGE(S) IN DEMAND AT LOCAL ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS AND PLANNED FOR FACILITIES TO MANAGE AND OFFSET SUCH SURGE(S). COMPANY WORKED WITH MANY HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES TO DETERMINE THE CLINICAL NEEDS AND FACILITATE THE ADMISSION OF RESIDENTS UNDER UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. COMPANY WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION (HEREINAFTER MSCA), A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND DELIVERY OF LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN MASSACHUSETTS, TO ENSURE THAT SERVICES WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE RECOVERING FROM COVID-19. COMPANY ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, BASED ON SCHOOL CLOSURES DURING THE PANDEMIC, WAS ABLE TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, FAIRHAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO BORROW I-PADS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROVISION OF SERVICES.AS THE FACILITIES WERE PREVIOUSLY ABANDONED BY UNRELATED OWNERS AND HAD BEEN VACANT FOR ALMOST A YEAR, COMPANY AND THE CITY WORKED TOGETHER TO CLEAN, REPAIR, RESTORE, AND UPGRADE BOTH BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS TO INSTALL EQUIPMENT AND SET-UP BEDS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE CAPACITY TO MANAGE AN IMMEDIATE SURGE OF COVID-19 RESIDENTS. COMPANY EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY $60,000 (LABOR, MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES) TO PREPARE FACILITIES AS ABOVE. THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HEREINAFTER HHS), IN RECOGNITION OF THE SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO COMPANY OF ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITIES, ESTABLISHED A PAYMENT METHODOLOGY TO REIMBURSE COMPANY FOR COSTS INCURRED. COMPANYWORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH HHS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE PANDEMIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF NURSING FACILITY SERVICES.THE FIRST OF THE TWO FACILITIES OPENED ON APRIL 17,2020, IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC. THE SECOND FACILITY OPENED PURSUANT TO THE DECEMBER 24, 2020 REQUEST OF HHS IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE RESURGENCE OF CASES DURING AND FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS. BASED ON NOTICE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (THE "STATE") BUTTONWOOD SUSPENDED ITS COVID OPERATIONS AS OF MARCH 8, 2021, THE DATE OF DISCHARGE OF THE LAST RESIDENT BUT REMAINED PREPARED TO REOPEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE STATE AND IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER SURGE IN THE PANDEMIC. COMPANY INTENDS TO EXPAND ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE TO SKILLED NURSING, ADULT DAY HEALTH, ENHANCED HOUSING, ASSISTED LIVING, HOMECARE, AND RELATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS.