Failure to Notify Ombudsman of Resident Discharge After Involuntary Discharge Notice
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to the facility’s failure to notify the ombudsman of a resident’s discharge following an involuntary discharge notice for non-payment. The resident was admitted on an unspecified date and was documented as cognitively intact on a 3/3/26 assessment, with independence in self-care (with supervision) and mobility. On 2/13/26, the Administrator issued the resident an involuntary discharge notice due to non-payment, with a planned discharge date of 3/16/26. The ombudsman reported that she was actively working with the resident on the involuntary discharge case, including filing an appeal and arranging a hearing, and had obtained representation for the resident and notified the facility of these actions. Despite the pending appeal and scheduled hearing, the resident discharged to home on 3/11/26, which the Administrator stated was the resident’s choice. The ombudsman stated that she learned of the discharge from an APS care worker’s message and that, as of 3/19/26, the facility had not sent any discharge notification to her office. The Administrator acknowledged that either she or social services should have notified the ombudsman of the resident’s discharge and confirmed, after reviewing email communications, that no such notification had been sent. This failure occurred despite the facility’s transfer and discharge policy dated 10/13/25, which requires that notice of transfer or discharge, including any updated information, be provided to the resident, the resident’s representative if appropriate, and the ombudsman as soon as practicable, and that the facility maintain evidence that the notice was sent to the ombudsman.
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