CEO of Weinberg Campus signs off on receivership to Lineage Care Group, approval still needed

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Robert Mayer, the CEO of Weinberg Campus, signed off on the Lineage Care Group getting receivership of the Rosa Coplon Living Center, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East announced in a release Wednesday.

The transfer, which needs approval from the New York State Department of Health, comes after elected officials, workers, and both residents of the center and their families picketed in front of the state's DOH offices Tuesday, demanding them to take action.

Last Thursday, officials told WIVB News 4 that the nursing home would be closed by Weinberg by the end of November, a move approved by the NYSDOH.

The union said in the release that, with Mayer's approval, Lineage Care is now working on submitting a receivership plan to the NYSDOH.

“For months, we have been doing everything within our power to keep the facility open,” said 1199SEIU Vice-President, Grace Bogdanove, in a release. "Immediate state funding to support a transfer of ownership will keep Weinberg open – allowing residents and their families to continue receiving the quality care they deserve from our dedicated union members. At this point, it’s up to New York State to fund and expedite the receivership process, allowing these residents to remain in their homes."

President of Lineage Care Group Christopher Koenig spoke with the DOH on Wednesday and explained to him that the communication for this type of program must come from the operator, which would be Mayer.

"He would have to push it on his end to allow this to continue," Koenig said. "The next step is to talk to him and see if he would entertain those calls and go from there."

Even with Mayer approving a transfer of ownership, the fight doesn't stop there. A spokesperson for Governor Hochul, Sam Spokony, said the governor's number one priority is ensuring the safety of the nursing home residents.

​“Nursing homes are stringently regulated by the Department of Health because senior citizens are some of the most vulnerable people in our community," Spokony said in a statement. "To be clear: it would be irresponsible and dangerous for the Department to hastily approve new ownership without conducting due diligence and ensuring any new owner is able to keep residents safe."

Spokony also cited that the state cannot start a receivership process until various requirements are addressed.

"We are committed to proceeding expeditiously when qualified applicants come forward​," he said in the statement. "A change in the operator of a nursing home, including to a receiver, requires a formal application, including financial disclosures, and a three-party agreement​; the State cannot decide unilaterally to place this facility in receivership."

WIVB News 4 reached out to Mayer for an interview Wednesday and haven't received a response.