ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Nursing Home To Pay $2.3 Million
Allegations Of Grossly Substandard Care
Government Payments For Allegedly Substandard Services
Skilled nursing facilities and assisted care communities often receive government funding for the care they provide residents. Fraudulent claims for payments of those government funds may be the basis for a private action to recover those funds under the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. Persons bringing those actions (known as relators) may be rewarded for their efforts. 31 U.S.C. § 3731. But the fraud may also result in the neglect of patients in those facilities where the funds dedicated for their care are diverted for personal use by a facility owner. Evans Law Firm, Inc. represents patients and their families who are defrauded or neglected, overmedicated, abandoned or denied the proper medications they need because funds intended for the care are diverted for personal gain by facility owners. Parties responsible for such fraud, abuse and neglect are liable for their actions under California Law. See Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.07 (definition of abuse), 15610.57 (definition of neglect), and 15610.63 (definition of physical abuse); Cal. Gov’t Code § 12650 et seq. (California False Claims Act). The parties responsible for the fraud and abuse should be held accountable. If you have a loved one who has suffered from abuse or neglect in any kind of care facility in San Francisco or elsewhere throughout California, call us today at (415)441-8669 or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267).
Case Of Fraud And Neglect[1]
In a recently reported settlement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California a nursing home has agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle allegations it billed Medicare and Medi-Cal for “grossly substandard nursing home services.” The nursing home is alleged to have “submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims to the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs for payment of its services that were grossly substandard and failed to meet minimum required standards of skilled nursing care in multiple ways” between 2012 and 2017, according to the U.S. Attorney’s press release.
“The United States alleges that nursing home residents …. were overmedicated with psychotropic drugs, suffered excessive falls, were exposed to resident-on-resident altercations, and experienced other mental and physical harm,” the press release continued.
Residents of nursing homes are among the most vulnerable in our community, and they rely on Medicare and Medi-Cal programs to provide the care and services they must have,” U>S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds stated. “Nursing homes are entrusted to impart competent and quality care to their residents. This case demonstrates that when federal funds are provided but substandard care is delivered, this office is committed to seeking accountability.”
Contact Us
The human toll of this kind of fraud can be staggering. Patients were in danger of not receiving the care, medications and food they needed. If you have a loved one who has suffered any kind of fraud or abuse or neglect in a nursing home or assisted care facility or hospice program, call us at Evans Law Firm, Inc. right away at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in the reported case in any way.
