In the wake of indictments against top nursing home officials, the state health secretary said her priority is keeping nursing home residents safe.The CEO and four other top officials at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center were indicted on federal health care fraud charges. The nursing homes, themselves, were also charged.Prosecutors said the nursing home officials falsified documents to keep staffing levels low and taxpayer reimbursements high.The state Health Department regulates nursing homes. Acting Health Secretary Dr. Denise Johnson was in Pittsburgh Thursday.Asked if the Health Department would review previous inspections, Johnson said, “I think we will have ongoing inspections and certainly if there are concerns, our surveyors are going to be tuned into that and be looking specifically to address those concerns.”The indictment said nursing home officials told nurses to falsify time cards to make it look like they were working with patients when they were off the clock.The indictment also said the homes gave residents fake diagnoses, including depression, in order to get higher reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.Asked if the department needs to change its procedures following the indictment, Johnson said, “I’m not familiar with the details of the indictment. We are concerned about the care and safety of individuals and we’ll continue to do that with our inspections.”
In the wake of indictments against top nursing home officials, the state health secretary said her priority is keeping nursing home residents safe.
The CEO and four other top officials at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center were indicted on federal health care fraud charges. The nursing homes, themselves, were also charged.
Prosecutors said the nursing home officials falsified documents to keep staffing levels low and taxpayer reimbursements high.
The state Health Department regulates nursing homes. Acting Health Secretary Dr. Denise Johnson was in Pittsburgh Thursday.
Asked if the Health Department would review previous inspections, Johnson said, “I think we will have ongoing inspections and certainly if there are concerns, our surveyors are going to be tuned into that and be looking specifically to address those concerns.”
The indictment said nursing home officials told nurses to falsify time cards to make it look like they were working with patients when they were off the clock.
The indictment also said the homes gave residents fake diagnoses, including depression, in order to get higher reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.
Asked if the department needs to change its procedures following the indictment, Johnson said, “I’m not familiar with the details of the indictment. We are concerned about the care and safety of individuals and we’ll continue to do that with our inspections.”
