Failure to Pay Transportation Vendor Resulting in Canceled Resident Appointments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to pay its transportation vendor in a timely manner, resulting in the cancellation of multiple resident appointments, including a critical eye surgery appointment for a resident with cerebral palsy, anxiety disorder, and gait abnormalities. The resident and their family reported that an initial eye appointment was canceled and rescheduled, but the rescheduled appointment was also canceled by the facility. The family was informed that the cancellation was due to the facility's inability to provide transportation. Interviews with staff, including the scheduler responsible for arranging transportation, confirmed that the appointment was canceled because the transportation company had not been paid by the facility. The scheduler indicated that this issue had occurred previously, but this was the longest period during which transportation was unavailable. Facility documentation showed that twelve appointments were canceled between October and December due to the lack of available transportation. The Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged that the facility failed to pay the transportation vendor on time, which directly led to the disruption of necessary medical appointments for residents. The facility's contract with the transportation provider required timely payment, and the failure to meet this obligation resulted in residents being unable to attend scheduled medical appointments.
Plan Of Correction
The invoices for transportation have been paid, and resident 57's appointment is scheduled for January 9, 2026. Invoices for transportation will be submitted timely and paid based on the due date. The administrator or designee will review weekly invoices with Accounts Payable for payment status. Audit of transportation invoices for payment will be conducted weekly (3 times) and monthly (2 times). Results will be presented at the monthly Quality Assurance meeting.