The DuPage County Convalescent Center is studying contracting with private firms for housekeeping, laundry, billing and other services, officials told a County Board committee on Tuesday.
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Ronald Reinecke, the center’s longtime administrator, also said officials are looking for ways to reduce energy and building maintenance costs at the 508-bed facility in Wheaton.
The highly regarded convalescent center has been under pressure from County Board Chairman Gayle Franzen and some board members to cut costs.
The annual cost of operating the facility generally has exceeded the income it receives from Medicaid and insurance company reimbursements and other fees. The difference has been made up by county property tax revenue-a subsidy that has ranged from $2 million to $3.8 million annually since 1987.
Reinecke has said he wants to eliminate the property-tax subsidy in next year’s budget.
The daily cost to the convalescent center of providing services to an average patient is about $22.15 higher than the revenue it receives, officials told members of the special Government Efficiency Committee set up by Franzen to look at ways to streamline county government.