Use of Facility Van with Expired Registration for Resident Transportation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its transportation van was properly licensed in accordance with State law while continuing to use it to transport residents to medical appointments. Review of the facility’s transportation policy showed it committed to providing safe, non-emergency transportation with a well-maintained van and appropriate liability and insurance coverage. Emails between the facility’s administrative team and the parent company documented ongoing awareness that the van’s registration had expired and that the title was needed to complete registration, with multiple communications about tracking down or obtaining duplicate titles and identifying facilities with expired registrations. Observation of the van showed a license plate sticker indicating expiration in 2025, and review of the transportation log showed multiple instances over several days in which residents were transported to physician appointments using the facility van, while some residents were transported by outside transportation companies. During interviews, the van driver stated that the van was used several times a week to transport residents, confirmed the license had expired the previous year, and reported being told the facility would pay any ticket if the van was pulled over, adding that other transportation services were available and that they would not drive their personal vehicle with expired tags. An LPN similarly reported that the van’s license had expired the previous year, that administration was aware, that the van was used a couple of times a week for resident appointments, and that administration was responsible for keeping the license current and probably should not have been driving it with expired tags. The Administrator acknowledged that the van’s license had expired the previous year after the new company purchased the facility, that the parent company was having difficulty obtaining the title from the previous owner and had referred the matter to its legal department, and that the van continued to be used several times a week for resident transportation despite the expired license, even though other transportation companies were available.
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