Failure to Pay Essential Service Bills in a Timely Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to pay outstanding bills to two vendors in a timely manner, as required by state regulations. Documentation provided by Vendor 1 and Vendor 2 showed significant unpaid balances, with Vendor 1's outstanding bill exceeding $200,000 and Vendor 2's bill accumulating to nearly half a million dollars. The vendors confirmed that there were no payment plans in place with the facility. The accounts payable ledgers provided by the facility corroborated these outstanding balances for both vendors. Vendor representatives indicated that the unpaid bills were for essential services, and one vendor was considering shutting down water services due to non-payment. Interviews with the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) revealed a lack of direct involvement or oversight regarding the payment of these bills, with the NHA stating that the accounts payable office was responsible for handling payments. The NHA later acknowledged the failure to pay the vendors in a timely manner. The facility's failure to manage its financial obligations for essential services was found to be non-compliant with state licensure regulations, which require timely payment of bills necessary for resident health and safety.