Elder abuse of Medicare beneficiaries at nursing homes isbeing underreported to law enforcement, and the Centers forMedicare & Medicaid Services “has inadequate procedures” toensure facilities are complying with the law, according to anearly alert issued Monday by the Health andHuman Services Inspector General’s office.
The preliminary results of the Inspector General’s ongoingreview identified 134 Medicare beneficiaries whose injuries mayhave been the result of potential abuse or neglect occurring during2015 and 2016. In addition, “a significant percentage” — 28 percent— of these incidents may not have been reported to lawenforcement.
The Inspector General found no evidence in the hospital recordsthat the 38 incidents were reported to local law enforcement,despite mandatory state reporting laws requiring the hospitals’medical staff to do so. Moreover, prior audit reports show thatgroup homes did not report up to 15 percent of critical incidentsto the appropriate state agencies.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
