Nursing home residents forced to move after facility loses federal funding

It is disturbing to hear that a Memphis Nursing Home has so many care issues that its federal funding has been cut and residents forced to move. News sources discovered that the harsh sanction was related to deficiencies state surveyors found during a recent visit. The news source visited the facility in order to speak with an administrator after a concerned family member sent an email about the issue. An unidentified employee asked the news source to leave. The Signature Healthcare Company was then emailed and contacted by the news source.
The Signature Healthcare Company confirmed that beginning on April 11th, it would no longer be paid by the federal government or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for Medicare and Medicaid resident care. This is important because many nursing home residents and patients are receiving Medicare and the facilities get reimbursed for their care. The move by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid seems to be a disciplinary action.
Signature Healthcare’s Media Relations Manager Ben Adkins stated that instead of issuing the facility a monetary fine for the survey findings, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid decided to cut the funding. “We are working through appropriate channels of recourse to try and get this rarely-used remedy changed, or at least delayed for the safety and well-being of our residents,” stated Adkins. The administrator who answered our questions at the time is no longer in that position at Saint Francis. Officials with the Tennessee State Department of Health would only say at the time, that it was related to an extended, annual survey and multiple complaint investigations.  Adkins states that the company is offering to relocate residents to other nursing homes in Memphis, including Signature facilities until the state finds the facility corrected the violations, at which time the nursing home will be eligible to receive federal funding again. Signature states that it will also transfer some of its staff to other facilities it owns in the area so no jobs are lost. According to Adkins, the company plans to inform the state as early as next week that the facility is back in compliance.
There are many nursing homes that receive fines and funding cuts due to nursing home abuse, neglect, and other violations. There are many ways nursing home abuse and neglect can be prevented. Some of these ways include providing more education and training for the staff, making sure residents that are prone to bedsores are turned or their position is changed often, paying close attention to those residents with certain nutritional or dietary needs, communicating with the family and loved ones about the care that is being given and why. It is also important that family members visit often and watch for signs of abuse such as bruising, scarring, bleeding, or signs that the loved one is quiet, withdrawn or seems easily agitated. It is important that any signs of abuse or neglect be reported.
If you believe that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, we strongly advise that you contact one of our experienced and compassionate Tennessee nursing abuse and neglect lawyers with the Higgins Firm. We care about our clients and will listen to you and work with you to see to it that you receive the compensation you may be entitled to for what your family has suffered.
Contact us online or call 800.705.2121 for your free consultation to discuss your legal needs and options.