Failure to Timely Refund Resident Trust Funds After Death
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to refund the trust fund account balances of two residents within 30 days of their death, as required by facility policy. Policy review indicated that resident funds should be refunded as soon as all transactions are accounted for, and no later than 30 days after discharge or death. Medical record and trust fund statement reviews showed that one resident, admitted with hemiplegia, pneumonia, dysphagia, and dementia, had an account balance of $3,843.98 at the time of death, while another resident with hemiplegia, dysphagia, acute kidney failure, and dementia had a balance of $562.51 at the time of death. During an interview, the accounting bookkeeper confirmed that these funds had not yet been refunded, despite the policy requirement.