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Nursing home cut off from federal funds ; Citing patients with bedsores, federal officials stop payment to the Haven Health Center in Cape Elizabeth. - Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME)

MARK PETERS Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
10-07-2003
Nursing home cut off from federal funds ; Citing patients with bedsores, federal officials stop payment to the Haven Health Center in Cape Elizabeth.
Byline: MARK PETERS Staff Writer
Edition: Final
Section: Local & State

Beginning today, a Cape Elizabeth nursing home that was cited for shortcomings during two recent inspections will stop receiving federal money that helps pay for the care of 43 Medicare and Medicaid patients.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced last month that it planned to stop payments to the former Viking Nursing Home. It took the rare step after inspectors found five residents had untreated and undocumented bedsores during a visit in August.
A follow-up visit in September showed that the problem persisted with four other residents, including some who developed sores within days of arriving at the home.

The loss of federal reimbursements will cost the nursing home an estimated $10,000 a day. Medicare pays some nursing-care expenses for citizens who are disabled or older than 65; Medicaid provides benefits for low-income citizens.

The home has decided to retain its Medicare and Medicaid patients while it seeks reinstatement.

Viking's new owner, Connecticut-based Haven Healthcare, plans to absorb the expense in hopes of having reimbursements restored quickly, said Anthony Scierka, vice president of Haven Healthcare.

On Monday, Maine's Department of Human Services was at the home - now called Haven Health Center of Cape Elizabeth - to inspect conditions and review patient care.

It will continue its review in the coming days and forward its findings to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said Newell Augur, spokesman for the DHS.

Federal officials will decide whether to resume funding patient care or continue with the current decision.

Scierka said that, according to the best-case scenario, Haven will have to go only a few days without federal reimbursements. If Haven does get federal approval for Medicare and Medicaid funding, the federal government will reimburse the home back to the date when state health officials complete their review.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last year disqualified only 14 nursing homes in the country from receiving reimbursements. There are an estimated 14,900 nursing homes that get Medicare and Medicaid money in the United States.

'Our goal is not to terminate homes. It is to get them up to standards,' said Mary Kahn, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

State officials have said inspectors cited the Cape Elizabeth nursing home three times in the past 14 months for problems that put residents in immediate jeopardy.

One of the citations came after an Alzheimer's patient left the building through an unlocked door and was found drowned in a nearby ravine.

Haven Healthcare, which owns 38 nursing homes in New England, took over management of the Cape Elizabeth facility in April, but did not become its owner until September.

Scierka said that since becoming involved in the home, the company has taken steps to improve care that include the replacement of the administrator, director of nursing, assistant director of nursing and 75 percent of what he described as the frontline staff.

It also has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in updating the home and adding staff and resources.

'It has been a significant turnaround effort,' Scierka said.

State and federal officials would not say how Monday's investigation went or the chances of Haven regaining its reimbursements.

Haven may face additional costs besides lost reimbursements. The nursing home faces $161,000 in civil penalties. It is unclear whether Haven or Viking, the home's former owner, would pay the costs.

Staff Writer Mark Peters can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

mpeters@pressherald.com

Copyright 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.