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Nursing Home Linked to 37 Coronavirus Deaths Faces Fine of $600,000 Nursing Home Linked to 37 Coronavirus Deaths Faces Fine of $600,000
(33 minutes later)
SEATTLE — A nursing home linked to dozens of coronavirus deaths in the Seattle area faces a fine of more than $600,000 and other sanctions after federal and state inspectors found a range of problems in how the facility handled the outbreak.SEATTLE — A nursing home linked to dozens of coronavirus deaths in the Seattle area faces a fine of more than $600,000 and other sanctions after federal and state inspectors found a range of problems in how the facility handled the outbreak.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a letter on Wednesday to the company, Life Care Center of Kirkland, that it may be terminated from Medicare and Medicaid participation if the facility is unable to come into compliance with federal regulations by September. Officials levied a fine of $13,585 per day covering a span of six weeks. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a letter on Wednesday to the facility, Life Care Center of Kirkland, that it may be terminated from Medicare and Medicaid participation if it is unable to come into compliance with federal regulations by September. Officials levied a fine of $13,585 per day covering a span of six weeks.
The state Department of Social and Health Services issued its own findings, halting new admissions at the facility. The state said Life Care did not to have an adequate infection control system in place and failed to provide quality care, among other findings. The state Department of Social and Health Services issued its own findings, halting new admissions at the facility. The state said Life Care did not have an adequate infection control system in place and failed to provide quality care, among other findings.
“The facility failed to ensure timely interventions for a respiratory outbreak resulting in multiple acute changes leading to hospitalization and resident deaths,” the state found.“The facility failed to ensure timely interventions for a respiratory outbreak resulting in multiple acute changes leading to hospitalization and resident deaths,” the state found.
Federal officials reported last month that Life Care had failed to notify state officials about the increasing rate of respiratory infections among residents, failed to rapidly identify and manage ill residents and failed to have a backup plan after the facility’s primary clinician fell ill. C.M.S. said those urgent issues have since been resolved, but that Life Care will also need to demonstrate compliance on other issues, including record-keeping and its handling of safety and quality strategies. Federal officials reported last month that Life Care had failed to notify state officials about the increasing rate of respiratory infections among residents, failed to rapidly identify and manage ill residents and failed to have a backup plan after the facility’s primary clinician fell ill. C.M.S. said that those urgent issues have since been resolved, but that Life Care would also need to demonstrate compliance on other issues, including record-keeping and its handling of safety and quality strategies.
“If L.C.C. of Kirkland does not correct all deficiencies and return to full compliance by September 16, 2020, then C.M.S. will terminate your facility from participating in the Medicare/Medicaid program,” wrote Patrick Thrift, a C.M.S. enforcement official in Seattle.“If L.C.C. of Kirkland does not correct all deficiencies and return to full compliance by September 16, 2020, then C.M.S. will terminate your facility from participating in the Medicare/Medicaid program,” wrote Patrick Thrift, a C.M.S. enforcement official in Seattle.
A spokesman for Life Care did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The company can appeal findings from both the federal and state reports.A spokesman for Life Care did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The company can appeal findings from both the federal and state reports.
Life Care emerged a month ago as an early epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Two-thirds of the facility's residents and dozens of staff members have tested positive for coronavirus. Officials have identified 37 people linked to the facility who have died. Life Care emerged a month ago as an early center of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Two-thirds of the facility’s residents and dozens of staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. Officials have identified 37 people linked to the facility who have died.
Life Care has said that as the crisis unfolded, managers initially had no reason to think that an outbreak of respiratory illness, common in nursing homes, was linked to the new coronavirus. That changed after testing at the end of February found that the virus was spreading in the Seattle area and in the nursing home.Life Care has said that as the crisis unfolded, managers initially had no reason to think that an outbreak of respiratory illness, common in nursing homes, was linked to the new coronavirus. That changed after testing at the end of February found that the virus was spreading in the Seattle area and in the nursing home.
Even then, Life Care has said, administrators and medical staff were left largely on their own, with little help from government officials.Even then, Life Care has said, administrators and medical staff were left largely on their own, with little help from government officials.
The facility earned five stars out of five on its federal ratings for overall care last year. However, as part of the same rating system, the government also gave the home only three stars in the category of “health inspections,” which include recent routine inspections and those prompted by complaints. The facility earned five stars out of five on its federal ratings for overall care last year. However, as part of the same rating system, the government also gave the home three stars in the category of “health inspections,” which include recent routine inspections and those prompted by complaints.
The facility had 18 citations for health inspection issues, compared to an average of 20.4 for Washington State and to the nationwide average of eight. Its high overall rating in spite of that could reflect the poor standards of nursing homes in general, a number of nursing home experts said. The facility had 18 citations for health inspection issues, compared with an average of 20.4 for Washington State and the nationwide average of eight. Its high overall rating in spite of that could reflect the poor standards of nursing homes in general, nursing home experts said.
People who are older or with underlying conditions are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Since the Life Care outbreak began, state and federal oversight officials around the country have limited visitors and ramped up reviews at nursing homes to shield sites from infection. People who are older or with underlying conditions are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Since the Life Care outbreak began, state and federal oversight officials around the country have limited visitors and ramped up reviews at nursing homes to shield sites from infection.
Matt Richtel contributed reporting from San Francisco.Matt Richtel contributed reporting from San Francisco.