March 4, 2004

 

 

Cindy Erickson, Collections Officer Northern Itasca Health Care Center P. O. Box 258 Bigfork, Minnesota 56628

Diana Longrie-Kline 1771 Burr Street Maplewood, Minnesota 55117

 

Re:     In the Matter of the Proposed Involuntary Discharge/Transfer of E.L. from Northern Itasca Health Care Center; OAH Docket No. 7-0900-15464-2

 

Dear Ms. Erickson and Ms. Longrie-Kline:

 

          I am in receipt of a copy of the letter from Ms. Longrie-Kline to Ms. Erickson, dated October 21, 2003, which letter announces that she has engaged a realtor to list and sell E.L.’s property in Grand Rapids.

 

          The letter (copy enclosed) proposes that Northern Itasca Health Care Center ask its counsel to draft a health care lien and file it against the property or, if the Facility prefers, Ms. Longrie-Kline does not oppose deeding the ownership of the property to Northern Itasca.

 

          I spoke by telephone with Ms. Erickson and Dan Odegaard, CEO of the Northern Itasca Health Care Center, the afternoon of October 22.  They will contact Ms. Longrie-Kline (perhaps they have already) to work out the details and discuss this matter further, pursuant to Ms. Longrie-Kline’s request to “Please keep me updated”, as written in her letter to Ms. Erickson.

 

          It appears that the action initiated in Ms. Longrie’s Kline’s letter may lead to a satisfactory resolution of this matter.  It is hoped that the resolution will lead to making the Facility whole with respect to E.L.’s arrears, and that E.L. can continue to reside at Northern Itasca.  If tangible action is taken to resolve the situation (such as a lien or an agreement to transfer the property), I will be in a position to recommend to the Commissioner of Health that this matter be dismissed.

 

          Please keep me updated as well.

 

                                                                      Very truly yours,

RCL:mo                                                          /s/ Richard C. Luis

Encl.

                                                                      RICHARD C. LUIS

cc:      Daniel Odegaard                                   Administrative Law Judge

          Darlene Weber

          Becky Lauer                                          Telephone: (612) 349-2542