Thread by @DragonStone1963

📢45 reduced fines for nursing homes that commit abuse, fraud or have substandard facilities. This will encourage more to put profit over patients and affect the care of our infirm and elderly. This thread is to raise awareness of this system and how we can prevent it.

H/T to Patricia Revists Patrick Henry 💙@2021_free for posting this article that inspired this thread
"the average fine for nursing homes decreased to $28,405 under Trump...down from $41,260 in 2016, former President Obama's last year in office."
Source:
thehill.com/policy/healthc…

The NPR article quoted by The Hill additionally states,

"Encouraged by the nursing home industry, the Trump administration switched from fining nursing homes for each day they were out of compliance as the Obama administration typically did...

...to issuing a single fine for two-thirds of infractions, the records show." "Since President Trump took office...[he] issued an 18-month moratorium from being penalized for violating eight new health and safety rules."
Source: n.pr/2CdeZAA

Substandard care, short staffing and run down facilities in some cases lead to elder abuse, all in the name of keeping profits rolling in. These are our parents we put in these "homes" they, or anyone, do not deserve this type of treatment.

https://twitter.com/LEAD_Coalition/status/1106247871479726080

In searching for articles on greed in the nursing home industry and substandard care for profits, I was surprised to see it dates back to 1974. 35 years ago this problem was pointed out in the book, Tender Loving Greed, by Mary Adelaide Mendelson.

"The scams by nursing home operators, abetted by an enabling system with congressional committees at the top, are as shocking to read about today as they were in 1974."

"Perhaps more shocking: read the never before disclosed letters showing how a powerful Senator tried to have the book killed."
12on14.us/pages/tlg.htm

Elderly and infirm care abuse in the name of profits has been part of the system since 1974 - 45 years! For 45 years we have known and yes, some strides have been made to regulate these facilities but we still have serious issues to solve in this system.

Short staffed for profits:
"A disabled man who had long, dirty fingernails told them he was tended to “once in a blue moon.” The bedside “call buttons” were so poorly staffed that some residents regularly soiled themselves while waiting for help to the bathroom. "

"The lack of care had devastating consequences. One man had been dosed with so many opioids that he had to be rushed to a hospital, according to the inspection reports. During an under supervised bus trip to church"
Source: esquire.com/news-politics/…

Abuse and fraud continues to this day as evident of the multitude of lawsuits, and legal actions taken against individuals and facilities I found researching for this thread. With 45 lowering fines on these facilities, it is a green light to neglect their patients for profits.

A 2016 fraud case:

"founder of the now-shuttered Passages Hospice has pleaded guilty to falsifying health care claims in an elaborate, multi-year Chicago scam...received more than $90 million in Medicare payments ... including..$20 million billed as general inpatient services."

Reporting works:
"Federal agents questioned patients, family members and nearly three dozen former Passages employees. Several reported the allegedly fraudulent billing and marketing practices to Medicare and law enforcement."
Source: abc7chicago.com/news/ex-hospic… via @abc7chicago

I could do a multitude of threads on the issue of substandard facilities, abuse and outright fraud. The purpose of this thread is to raise awareness of the problems in the infirm/elderly care system and get folks engaged in spreading information and awareness of these issues.

Elderly and infirm care is not all doom and gloom, there are plenty of amazing facilities that provide great care to their patients. There is amazing care available throughout our health care system, for those who can afford it, and that is part of the problem with our system.

What can we do to keep facilities in check?

1. Report abuse and report homes or facilities abusing their patients.
2. Thoroughly investigate or check out facilities before putting loved ones in
their care.

3. Visit often on regular days and unannounced. Don't let them get used to a
routine and have time to "set up" the perfect visit.
4. Don't dismiss complaints from loved ones as whining. Look into
complaints, talk to roommates or other residents.

Resources for reporting abuse:
Fed:
medicare.gov/forms-help-res…

Each state will also have a reporting system, this is Washington's:
dshs.wa.gov/report-abuse-a…

Fraud reporting Fed:
medicare.gov/forms-help-res…

Each state will also have a reporting system(s), these are Washington's:
atg.wa.gov/medicaid-fraud

dshs.wa.gov/faq/how-do-i-r…

The best way to avoid issues is to STAY INVOLVED in their care. Life gets busy especially if you have kids but make the time to visit your loved one. While you are there look around and listen to what is going around the facility, with staff and other patients.

Quality care is a group effort involving you, the patient and the facility. Our system has issues, but staying involved will head off problems before they become detrimental. Everyone is deserving of compassion and to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their life.

Thread/series on greed in healthcare.

https://twitter.com/DragonStone1963/status/1104939066359930880