Failure to Timely Refund Resident Personal Funds After Death
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to convey a resident's personal funds and provide a final accounting to the resident's representative within 30 days of the resident's death, as required by facility policy. Record review showed that the resident, who had diagnoses including Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy, expired in the facility. The resident's spouse reported not receiving the refund check for the resident's personal funds until several months after the resident's death, despite contacting the Ombudsman for assistance. Interviews with the Business Office Manager and the Administrator confirmed that the refund check was not issued within the required 30-day timeframe, and no explanation was provided for the delay. The Ombudsman also confirmed being contacted by the resident's spouse and subsequently speaking with the Administrator, who stated they were working on the issue. Documentation showed that the refund check for $759.00 was eventually issued to the resident's spouse, but not in a timely manner as stipulated by facility policy.