Urbandale nursing home may be forced to close
8:15 AM
Posted: Wednesday, November 29, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- One of the largest nursing homes in Iowa could be forced to close because of allegations that residents have been the victim of neglect and abuse.
Officials at USA Healthcare of Urbandale, which is home to 111 seniors, were notified Monday that state officials intend to revoke the facility's nursing home license at the end of the year. At the same time, federal officials notified the home's administrators that they intend to end Medicare and Medicaid funding for the home effective Friday.
Both of the actions can be appealed by the home, but an appeal would not delay the federal government's decision to pull government funding from the home this week.
That could be a critical blow. The vast majority of the home's occupants -- 97 of the home's 111 residents -- depend on that funding to pay for their care.
Federal officials decided to cut the funding on Monday. They noted that the home has been in compliance with minimum standards only 22 weeks over the past 22 months.
According to state records, the home's owners had asked for another state inspection that might show the home was in compliance with all regulations, but federal officials rejected that proposal.
Kendall Watkins, the home's attorney, said Monday that the company is disappointed regulators chose not to give the home another chance.
"We are proceeding with our appeals," he said. "In the meantime, we will focus on meeting the needs of our residents and their family members during this difficult time."
Since 2002, only four Iowa nursing homes have been closed by the state: Easton Health Center of Des Moines; The Abbey of Des Moines; Georgian Court of Oskaloosa; and Siouxland Nursing and Rehab of Sioux City.
The Urbandale home is the fifth-largest occupancy nursing home in Iowa. It's believed to be the largest Iowa home to ever face a license revocation, said Department of Inspections and Appeals spokesman David Werning.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
AP-CS-11-29-06 0922EST
Officials at USA Healthcare of Urbandale, which is home to 111 seniors, were notified Monday that state officials intend to revoke the facility's nursing home license at the end of the year. At the same time, federal officials notified the home's administrators that they intend to end Medicare and Medicaid funding for the home effective Friday.
Both of the actions can be appealed by the home, but an appeal would not delay the federal government's decision to pull government funding from the home this week.
That could be a critical blow. The vast majority of the home's occupants -- 97 of the home's 111 residents -- depend on that funding to pay for their care.
Federal officials decided to cut the funding on Monday. They noted that the home has been in compliance with minimum standards only 22 weeks over the past 22 months.
According to state records, the home's owners had asked for another state inspection that might show the home was in compliance with all regulations, but federal officials rejected that proposal.
Kendall Watkins, the home's attorney, said Monday that the company is disappointed regulators chose not to give the home another chance.
"We are proceeding with our appeals," he said. "In the meantime, we will focus on meeting the needs of our residents and their family members during this difficult time."
Since 2002, only four Iowa nursing homes have been closed by the state: Easton Health Center of Des Moines; The Abbey of Des Moines; Georgian Court of Oskaloosa; and Siouxland Nursing and Rehab of Sioux City.
The Urbandale home is the fifth-largest occupancy nursing home in Iowa. It's believed to be the largest Iowa home to ever face a license revocation, said Department of Inspections and Appeals spokesman David Werning.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
AP-CS-11-29-06 0922EST
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