News Summary
The federal government has ended its Medicare and Medicaid provider agreements with Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center due to ongoing health and safety violations, marking Virginia’s first such decertification in years. The facility faces severe deficiencies, including resident injuries and neglect, leading to significant concerns about resident safety. Approximately 30 residents must be relocated within 30 days, amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny and operational challenges. This action underscores critical issues in nursing home oversight and care quality in Virginia.
Virginia Beach – The federal government has taken an unprecedented step by terminating the Medicare and Medicaid provider agreements for the Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center, effective August 27. This action marks the first federal decertification of a nursing home in Virginia in a span of at least three years, highlighting severe implications for the facility and its residents.
The termination stems from ongoing health and safety violations that have failed to meet federal standards. Princess Anne has been cited for repeatedly allowing conditions that led to serious injuries among residents due to inadequate supervision and care. As a measure of last resort, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found it necessary to intervene after a history of non-compliance.
In a series of troubling incidents recorded by federal inspections, residents were often found unsupervised in unsafe conditions. In one case, staff failed to provide immediate care for a resident who was discovered bleeding profusely alone in her room after sustaining a significant injury. Additional complaints revealed that critical safety measures, such as the use of wander guard bracelets to prevent residents from leaving the facility unsupervised, were not implemented effectively. Another incident saw a resident found bruised outside of the facility, prompting concerns about staff negligence.
The facility has a troubling pattern of care deficiencies. Past inspections have documented the nursing home’s inability to adequately treat pressure ulcers and instances of neglect that have exacerbated residents’ conditions. A follow-up inspection in June uncovered five repeat violations, suggesting a failure to address previously identified issues. An inspection conducted in August brought to light even more critical violations of care standards, leading to situations where residents experienced severe injuries requiring hospitalization.
With an overall rating of 1-star by CMS, Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center is categorized as a low-quality facility. The nursing home currently operates under Lifeworks Rehab, which previously functioned as Medical Facilities of America (MFA). In 2021, ownership transitioned to Innovative Healthcare Management as part of a corporate restructuring.
As a result of the termination notice, approximately 30 residents who rely on Medicaid services will need to be relocated within the next 30 days. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), which is responsible for conducting health inspections and ensuring compliance among nursing homes, is currently grappling with a backlog of complaints and staffing shortages. These challenges may hinder the oversight of facilities like Princess Anne.
Previous enforcement actions against the nursing home included daily financial fines and a denial of payments for new admissions imposed since May. These measures indicate ongoing concerns regarding the facility’s operations. CMS’s termination of agreements could severely jeopardize the nursing home’s financial viability, as Medicare and Medicaid funds are critical for day-to-day operations.
Despite these violations and the termination notice, the facility’s spokesperson has indicated efforts are underway to work diligently with regulators to rectify the issues at hand and prevent further actions. Virginia health officials also have the authority to suspend or revoke the nursing home’s license in response to the continuing failures to provide adequate care.
In light of the current circumstances, VDH is evaluating all legal and regulatory options available to ensure that all residents receive appropriate and safe care moving forward. The situation at Princess Anne Health and Rehabilitation Center underscores significant concerns about resident safety and quality of care within nursing facilities across Virginia.
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Additional Resources
- WTVR: Virginia Beach Nursing Home Federal Action
- Pilot Online: Nursing Home Complaints Surge
- Bacon’s Rebellion: One Down
- Wikipedia: Nursing Home
- WTKR: Virginia Isn’t Checking on Nursing Homes Enough
- Google Search: Virginia Nursing Homes
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