Catholic Diocese Of Camden Calls On Experts To Help Plan The Future Of Operating Nursing Homes

By David Madden

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Faced with major changes in how the government reimburses nursing homes for caring for the poor, the Catholic Diocese of Camden has appointed a 12 member panel of experts to come up with plans for the future.

Bishop Dennis Sullivan's charge to the panel is find a way to make it affordable to care for seniors at four facilities the Diocese operates in Vineland, Pleasantville and Cherry Hill.

Diocesan spokesman Peter Feuerherd says cuts from the feds, paired with rising costs, make this study imperative.

"The Bishop has made it clear that nothing should be off the table and he's relying on these experts to give him sound advice and he hopes that they will be able to come up with judgments that can allow the church to continue in this ministry to senior people."

Panelists include six people in the health care and financial sectors, including two former hospital CEOs. There is no firm deadline for the committee to submit findings to Sullivan for review.