Failure to Provide Timely Financial Assistance and Social Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide medically-related social services to assist a resident with financial matters. Upon admission following release from incarceration, the resident did not receive information about his personal funds, did not receive a statement, and was unaware of the location or status of any personal allowance funds. The facility determined that the resident had no resources and did not designate a responsible party, as the resident was his own responsible party. Despite having reasonable knowledge that the resident was entitled to monthly monetary benefits, the facility did not assist him in contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) to reinstate his benefits immediately after his incarceration. The facility submitted documentation for Medicaid payment by indicating the resident had no income, but did not follow up on the reinstatement of Social Security or Medicare benefits until five months after admission, when it was discovered that the necessary documentation had likely not been submitted by prison staff. During this period, the resident was unable to access over $1,700 in deposited funds and did not receive monthly personal fund statements. The facility's inaction resulted in delayed access to entitled financial resources and lack of support in managing the resident's financial affairs.