At four facilities of a nursing home company, a settlement has been reached with New York’s attorney general following allegations of financial fraud and resident neglect. After resolving an investigation into Centers Health Care, the attorney general announced the $45 million settlement. The involved nursing homes include Beth Abraham Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Bronx County, Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Erie County, Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Queens County, and Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Westchester County.
The settlement holds not only the facility’s owners accountable but also the involved landlords, management, and partners. A Centers spokesperson told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, “We are pleased to resolve our litigation, which dismisses all allegations of wrongdoing against Centers. For over three decades, Centers has cared for thousands of residents across dozens of facilities while maintaining high standards of care. We remain committed to implementing the settlement terms, including a substantial investment in resident care.” The lawsuit, filed in June of 2023, accused Centers of misusing $83 million in Medicaid and Medicare funds. After the dismissal request was denied for the defendant a few months ago, members organized protests outside five other Centers-operated nursing homes over stalled worker contracts. The spokesperson further went on to share that the nursing home residents suffered neglect and mistreatment for years as the owners were making millions of dollars. The owners must pay $8.75 million in restitution to Medicaid and Medicare and $35 million into a resident care fund. Also, they need to pay an additional $1 million potentially allocated based on recommendations from an independent healthcare monitor.
The settlement and compliance officers mandate that the affected facilities strongly increase RN staffing. This case will further ensure that these owners will now be held accountable for their mistreatment, and major changes will be made. The most important thing is that the residents get the care they deserve, and the compliance officer will be dedicated to overseeing that change’s implementation.
Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Pennsylvania
If you know of someone who has been injured or neglected while a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility, have them contact the lawyers at DLP who have been representing nursing home abuse victims for over forty years. We at DLP Law Firm can protect and represent you against nursing home-related issues. Remember— Injury? Call DLP! (570) C-A-L-L-D-L-P.
