New York Nursing Home Sued for Fraud, Neglect by State Attorney General
By Aaron Katersky
On Nov. 29, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit against the owners, operators, and related companies of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center for an alleged "complicated web of fraud" that led to patient neglect. According to the lawsuit, the defendants used the state's Medicaid program to boost personal profits instead of devoting the funds to staffing and patient care. Of the over $86 million in Medicare and Medicaid payments made to The Villages from 2015 to 2021, 20% was allegedly shifted by the Western New York nursing home into separate entities established by the owners to increase their personal profits. The lawsuit also alleges that residents experienced malnourishment and dehydration, falls and other physical injuries, and infections due to bed sores and inadequate wound care, among other things, leading to hospitalization and death in some instances. Further, the facility's management attempted to conceal positive COVID-19 cases and delayed or neglected to enforce proper quarantine protocols for infected residents, leading to preventable deaths. Staff also were forced to work when sick and given little to no personal protective equipment. The lawsuit seeks to force the owners to return all fraudulently received funds, appoint a receiver and financial monitor, appoint a healthcare monitor to improve care, and stop admitting new patients until further notice.
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