The Connecticut Attorney General issued the following news release:
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced that a federal bankruptcy judge has approved a three-week budget that Blumenthal's office advocated to ensure adequate health care and safety for patients at Haven Eldercare, LLC nursing homes.
The budget - far exceeding the Haven Eldercare proposal - provides the means for Haven Health Care homes in Connecticut and other states to properly operate until the court considers appointing a trustee advocated by the attorney general to completely take over the operations.
'This three-week budget is another key step toward assuring adequate resident health care and safety, as well as preventing illegal misuse and diversion of funds. These resources are the lifeblood of adequate healthcare - pharmaceutical supplies, medicine, equipment, compensation for nurses and caregivers.
'Present management sought to lowball and underfund these needs, which now will be sufficiently supported under our plan. The budgetary allowance for pharmaceuticals will be $453,000 under our plan, for example, rather than the $65,000 in Haven Eldercare's budget.
'This plan is a stopgap, not a complete solution. It will enable the ombudsman and restructuring officer to meet resident and patient care needs for health care and safety, and can provide a foundation for improving standards under more permanent solutions such as a trustee, as we have sought.
'This plan is essentially the budget that I urged the court yesterday to adopt, in light of our shared priority, first and foremost, to protect patients and residents - almost 2,000 individuals and their loved ones who will be directly and urgently affected by levels of care.
Blumenthal, along with representatives of the U.S. Attorney, U.S. Trustee and unsecured creditors worked together to propose this budget.
