Failure to Provide Required Appeals and Ombudsman Notification During Hospital Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide required written notice of appeal rights, including contact information for the appeals entity and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, to a resident and/or their representative during a hospital transfer. Clinical record review showed that a resident with diagnoses including age-related macular degeneration and muscle weakness was transferred to the hospital, but there was no documentation that the resident or their representative received the necessary appeals information. Additionally, the facility did not notify the Long-Term Care Ombudsman of the resident's hospital transfer, as required, and only included residents not returning to the facility in their monthly notifications. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that appeals information is not provided during hospital transfers and that the Ombudsman is not notified of such transfers if the resident is expected to return.