News Summary
The federal government has terminated Medicare and Medicaid agreements with Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center due to serious health and safety violations. This marks a rare federal decertification of a nursing home in Virginia and poses significant risks for current residents and staff. The facility must transition residents to other locations within 30 days, as previous compliance failures led to inadequate care and supervision. The nursing home received a low one-star rating from Medicare, highlighting ongoing systemic issues in management practices and oversight.
Virginia Beach — The federal government has taken significant action against the Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center by terminating its Medicare and Medicaid provider agreements due to severe health and safety violations. This development, effective August 27, marks the first instance of federal decertification of a nursing home in Virginia in three years and is considered a “last resort” after the facility failed to rectify ongoing issues that endangered residents’ safety.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the termination stems from Princess Anne’s failure to comply with essential health and safety requirements mandated for nursing homes receiving federal funding. Such compliance is crucial as violations of these standards can lead to unsafe living conditions for residents. The facility has been linked through its operational control to several other poorly rated nursing homes within the Richmond region, raising concerns about systemic issues in management practices and oversight.
Federal records have documented alarming incidents at Princess Anne, including serious injuries to residents due to inadequate supervision and care. Recent inspections revealed multiple violations, highlighting deficiencies in areas such as staff oversight, wound treatment, and overall resident safety. For instance, one report indicated a resident was found alone and bleeding without receiving necessary medical attention, underscoring failures in supervisory protocols.
As a result of the termination, all current Medicare and Medicaid residents at Princess Anne must transition to other facilities within 30 days. This situation poses a grave risk to the nursing home’s operational viability, as Medicare and Medicaid funds constitute a substantial portion of its revenue. The facility’s spokesperson confirmed efforts are underway to work closely with regulators to ensure compliance and manage the potential for disruptions in care and job loss among staff.
Nursing homes are required to address cited violations within a strict timeframe, typically a six-month grace period. Violations noted ranged from the inadequate management of pressure ulcers to serious lapses in patient care. The latest inspections in August uncovered severe violations that exacerbated the risk to residents, prompting the federal government to intervene decisively. Princess Anne has received a low one-star overall quality rating from Medicare, reflecting its inadequate performance in resident care.
The ownership of Princess Anne is associated with Lifeworks Rehab and has previously been linked to Medical Facilities of America (MFA), which has been part of the management of other low-performing facilities. Ongoing enforcement actions against Princess Anne have included daily fines and restrictions on new admissions due to compliance failures. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), which conducts inspections on behalf of CMS, is currently evaluating the facility’s licensing and overall accountability.
The state health authorities face increasing criticism for their inability to manage the volume of complaints related to nursing home quality and safety, which points to broader systemic issues affecting care facilities across Virginia. Stakeholders emphasize the need for improved oversight mechanisms and vetting processes for nursing home ownership structures to enhance accountability and care standards.
While Princess Anne may seek to regain its provider agreements, it would need to reapply as a new entity and demonstrate compliance over a period of at least 30 days. As questions arise regarding the impact on current residents, it remains unclear how many Medicare patients will be affected by the loss of funding, especially since payment will cease within the stipulated 30-day transition period.
The current landscape reflects ongoing challenges in nursing home management and care quality, underscoring the urgency for both regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders to address the deficiencies adversely impacting vulnerable populations in long-term care settings.
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Federal gov’t terminates Medicare and Medicaid agreements for Princess Anne Nursing Home
Additional Resources
- WTVR: Virginia Beach Nursing Home Federal Action
- Wikipedia: Nursing Home
- Pilot Online: Nursing Home Complaints Surge
- Google Search: Nursing Home Complaints Virginia
- WTKR: Virginia Isn’t Checking on Nursing Homes Enough
- Google Scholar: Nursing Home Oversight Virginia
- 12 On Your Side: VDH Inspections Colonial Heights Nursing Home
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nursing Home
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