March 14, 2025

Big Horn Hospital Association Hospital / Long-Term Care Service Levels:

In 2022, Big Horn Hospital faced one of its most challenging moments and was forced to make the difficult decision to close its nursing home and assisted living facilities due to financial strain. This financial strain stemmed from low reimbursements that were insufficient to meet the expenses. Despite this setback, Big Horn Hospital continues to provide hospital acute care, short-term skilled swing-bed care and limited long-term swing-bed care for those in need.

Current Capacity and Hospital Care

Currently, Big Horn Hospital is licensed for 18 beds. This means that at maximum capacity, only 18 people can stay overnight in our facility as hospital or swing bed patients. As a hospital, we must reserve space for those who are acutely ill and need medical care, such as patients with pneumonia, severe infections, or dehydration. These patients typically stay for a few days to receive medical care before recovering enough to go home.

Skilled Swing Bed

Big Horn Hospital also reserves a few beds available for patients who require a skilled nursing rehabilitation service before returning home. Swing bed patients are not nursing home patients. A skilled swing bed may involve a stay of six to twelve weeks. Skilled swing beds, also known as transitional care units, are designed to help patients recover after a hospital stay and before returning home, providing a bridge between acute care and skilled nursing care.

To qualify for a skilled swing bed admission, patients must have a medically necessary hospital stay of at least three consecutive days and require treatment of the same condition.

Long-Term Care Swing-Bed and Flexibility

Currently, we have capacity for eight patients in our long-term care swing bed unit. Certain criteria must be met by the patient to ensure their safety and well-being. It is vital to maintain flexibility with the available rooms to ensure space for those who desire to have a private room. This allows those on end-of-life care the space to spend their last precious moments with loved ones in private.

Preparing for Long-Term Care Swing-Bed

If long-term care is needed, a person should plan as there are certain criteria to meet and steps to go through to be admitted. If admission is anticipated, it is best to get on the waitlist at appropriate facilities sooner rather than later. Care will need to be established with the primary care physician. At Big Horn Hospital, when a long-term care bed becomes available, Social Services will call people who have met admission criteria and who are on the waitlist. Patients on the waiting list may need to provide current medical records and meet with the financial team.

Long-Term Swing-Bed Care Financial Preparations

The private pay rate for a long-term swing-bed room is approximately $275.00 per day. Medicare does not usually pay for a long-term care stay. Those with nursing home insurance need to review any stipulations set forth in their policy. Long-term care Medicaid does pay for long-term care swing-bed; however, the requirements are different from regular Medicaid. Additionally, Medicaid approval may take weeks, sometimes months, so advance preparation is vital.

Conclusion

This is quite a change from just a few years ago when we had Big Horn Senior Living. While no one ever really knows what tomorrow will bring, it may benefit you to be on multiple facility waitlists. Big Horn Hospital has a resource list available upon request. We continue to thank the people of Big Horn County and surrounding areas for your patronage and for helping Big Horn Hospital remain a viable option for your healthcare needs.

For additional information or questions, please contact: Kim Roan, Social Services Director, Big Horn Hospital Association at 406-665-9259.

Sincerely,

Kristi Gatrell, CEO

Big Horn Hospital Association