Nursing homes don’t only fear lawsuits, they also fear fines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This is the government organization that administers these programs and ensures that nursing homes follow the standards of care requires by government. If they don’t comply, they can receive massive fines, or even lose access to those funds.
A nursing home in Tennessee received a seven-figure fine for a laundry list of violations found at the home. The 35 violations include medications errors, dirty conditions, and patient neglect. Any one of these could be considered grounds for an elder abuse lawsuit, let alone all three of them. According to the report, the CMS initially halted reimbursements made by the facility, but this was revised and a huge fine levied instead.
The nursing home chain, Signature HealthCARE, paid the fine off and made the necessary corrections. Signature HealthCARE is one of the largest nursing home chains in the country.
If you are deciding on a nursing home or if you have a family member in one, check out the government’s ratings on the home at medicare.gov. You can find out about complaints in process and other proceedings against a nursing home that could guide your decision. If you feel like your loved one has been abused, contact Schenk Smith Trial Attorneys. We can help you file a lawsuit and get the attention of CMS on the facility. Call today for a free consultation.
