Bad Nursing Homes and Some of the Bad Men Who Run Them – The Saga Continues
(Updated: March 16, 2024.) Several years ago, I wrote about some of the “bad” men who are permitted to own and operate nursing homes, and questioned how this is permitted. My interest was to shed some light on those bad operators and owners who are permitted year in and year out to prey upon those they are entrusted to care for. Indeed, the citizenry of nursing homes – the infirm, the elderly, the vulnerable – deserve, no they are entitled to, reasonable care and treatment. (Actually, pursuant to statute and legal authority, residents of nursing homes are entitled to the “highest level of practicable care” possible.)
So then, why are proven profiteers year after year permitted to own and operate these care facilities? We ask, although unfortunately, we know the answer: Money!
Nursing homes are usually chosen based upon expected trust and promises made. When that trust is broken you or your loved one suffers. I have seen first hand the profound effect this harm has on victims and the family and friends of loved ones. This is why I fight for the rights and dignity of those harmed and abused.
A nursing home operator plead guilty on two separate occassions to tax evasion charges. At his peak, they operated more than 90 nursing homes in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Arkansas, an other states. Yes, taxpayers were cheated out of enomorous sums of money, but the real problem was that many of these nursing homes failed leading to safety risks to thousands of his residents.
Centers Health Care: Admitted to using a complex network of companies and sham contracts to pocket $83 million in Medicare, Medicaid and other funding meant for patient care. New York State Attorney General Letitia James secured an $45 million dollar settlement in a lawsuit that accused them of stealing government funds and understaffing facilities that resulted in widespread neglect, illness and death among residents.
We followed up our original blog with further examples of financial greed and avarice.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has pursued some of these operators and secured monetary settlements. Financial accountability is certainly a positive result, but candidly, civil remedies alone do not appear to be enough of a deterrence.
Another example of a “bad” nursing home operator who avoided jail, during Hurricane Ida who left 800 of his residents in a warehouse. Charged with 15 crimes, the result was a fine of $8.2 million.
New York State and Northern New Jersey Nursing Home Advocates
If you or someone you know is grappling with a difficult situation in a nursing home, please reach out. I am here to help you navigate these challenges and to advocate for your justice. Should you have any question, please contact us toll free at 888 MY 911 LAW (888.699.1152), or by email through our contact form here.
Thank you.
