Failure to Safeguard Resident Funds and Prevent Misappropriation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect the rights of six residents whose personal funds were managed by the facility, resulting in misappropriation of resident property. Facility policy clearly prohibits the misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful use of resident belongings or money without consent, and requires receipts for all petty cash disbursements. However, for multiple residents, there were significant withdrawals from their accounts for personal needs items, tobacco, clothing, and telephone charges, with no supporting receipts or documentation. In several cases, residents were charged for items they did not use or request, such as tobacco for a non-smoker and personal care items after discharge or death. Interviews with the affected residents revealed that they were only allowed to withdraw small amounts of money at a time, typically $40, and were not provided with clear explanations of their financial statements. Some residents expressed distress and anger upon discovering unexplained or unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts. One resident reported being manipulated by a former Business Office Manager (BOM) into giving money under false pretenses, while others denied ever making or authorizing the large withdrawals documented in their records. The lack of receipts and inconsistent withdrawal practices were confirmed by both residents and facility staff. The facility's own staff, including the Nursing Home Administrator and current BOM, acknowledged the absence of required receipts and could not explain the discrepancies in resident accounts. The former BOM was terminated after a significant amount of petty cash was found missing, but there was no evidence that the facility reviewed prior transactions for additional losses. The President of Revenue Cycle also confirmed that the residents had unsupported charges and that receipts could not be located, indicating a systemic failure in the management and safeguarding of resident funds.