Two Buffalo Nursing Homes May Close BUFFALO (wned) - Kaleida Health and the Catholic Health System say inadequate medicaid reimbursement from the state has left them with no choice but to close two of their nursing facilities.

Kaleida is asking the State Health Department for permission to close its Waterfront
Health Care Center, a skilled nursing facility on Buffalo's west side. CHS is closing its St. Francis of Buffalo nursing facility on Benwood Avenue at Main St.

Waterfront and St. Francis are losing millions of dollars annually and their situations are worsening. The closings mean the loss of hundreds of health care worker jobs.

CHS spokesman Dennis McCarthy says the losses can no longer be sustained.

"Because of the continual losses over many years due to Medicaid reimbursement inadequecies, we had to make a difficult decision," said McCarthy.

Kaleida is laying the groundwork for finding new homes for Waterfront's 160 residents.

St. Francis of Buffalo houses 109 residents. Efforts are underway to find them new homes. Sometimes, McCarthy said, residents opt to move out of state to be closer to family.

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