Failure to Timely Report Alleged Misappropriation of Resident’s Debit/Credit Card
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to timely report an allegation of misappropriation of a resident’s debit/credit card to the State Survey Agency (SSA) within the required 24-hour timeframe. The facility’s Abuse, Prevention and Prohibition Policy, dated 03/2025, directed that all alleged violations involving misappropriation of resident property be reported immediately to the administrator or designee, and that the person made aware of the allegation report it to the mandated state agency and law enforcement. The facility’s investigation, dated 02/23/26, showed the resident reported a missing debit card to an agency nurse sometime between 02/20/26 and 02/21/26 and reported fraudulent charges on the account. A progress note dated 02/21/26 documented that the resident reported the credit card stolen from his/her wallet and that unauthorized transactions were found, and that staff left a message for the administrator to call. The investigation record did not contain documentation that SSA was notified within 24 hours, and review of the Department of Health and Senior Services complaint/facility self-report database showed no documentation that the facility reported the allegation of misappropriation of property. Resident #1’s quarterly MDS, dated 02/25/26, showed the resident was cognitively intact and had been admitted on 09/15/22. During interview, the resident stated he/she reported the missing credit card and unauthorized charges to staff on 02/21/26. The administrator stated that if staff were aware of misappropriation of a resident’s property, the incident should be immediately reported up the chain of command and that he/she was responsible for reporting to the state agency, but reported not knowing about the allegation until 02/23/26. The administrator acknowledged receiving a message from a nurse on 02/21/26, attempting to call back without reaching the nurse, and that the nurse did not leave a message explaining the reason for the call, after which the administrator forgot to call again. The DON stated staff were directed to immediately report allegations of misappropriation of a resident’s property to the administrator or charge nurse so DHSS could be called to file a report.
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