DOJ accuses nonprofit nursing homes of providing ‘grossly substandard’ care
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing the nonprofit operator of four nursing homes, alleging the organization provided care so “grossly substandard” that it ran afoul of the False Claims Act, prompting federal authorities to intervene.
In an announcement, the DOJ said it filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Toledo-based ProMedica Health System, along with its affiliated entity HCR ManorCare. The lawsuit stems from reported problems at four nursing homes the two organizations operated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.
The defendants are accused of failing to follow patient care plans, delivering inadequate wound care, neglecting resident hygiene and failing to provide feeding assistance. In some cases, the alleged misconduct led to patients suffering severe health consequences.
Further, the DOJ alleges the facilities attempted to conceal their negligence by falsifying medical records, documenting care provided to residents that no clinician actually delivered. The DOJ did not specify how many violations occurred, but stated that these incidents were multiple and spanned 2018 to 2023.
“Grossly substandard care places nursing home residents at serious risk of harm and this suit sends a clear message that we will pursue health care providers who fail to meet their legal obligations to provide required care and who betray the trust of the residents they are meant to serve,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said in a statement.
The nursing homes mentioned in the lawsuit are all branded as ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, with the lawsuit centering on those in Riverview, OH; East Greenville, SC; Imperial, VA; and Pottstown, PA.
ProMedica responds
HealthExech reached out to ProMedica, asking for comment on the DOJ lawsuit. A spokesperson sent the following statement:
"We believe the intervening lawsuit filed by the DOJ against four skilled nursing facilities previously owned by HCR ManorCare is without merit, and we will vigorously defend against it. It stems from two underlying lawsuits filed against HCR ManorCare skilled nursing facilities back in 2016 and 2017—pre-ProMedica ownership.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and well-being, ProMedica stepped up in 2018 to acquire the bankrupt HCR ManorCare, ensuring its more than 200 nursing homes and assisted living facilities could continue providing essential, high-quality care in the communities they served. In the following years, prior to divesting the facilities, we made substantial investments to further elevate the high-quality of care and maintained an impressive compliance record, even amid the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic."
The DOJ filed the case on Sept. 2. This is a developing story.
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