Cathedral Rock Nursing Home Corporation Pleads Guilty to Felony Medicaid Fraud
Cathedral Rock Corp., which operates nursing homes in Texas, Illinois, Missouri and New Mexico, will pay the United States $1 million in criminal fines and penalties, and $628,000 in a civil settlement, for operating five nursing homes in the St. Louis area that were understaffed and provided substandard care.
The nursing homes admitted in their plea agreements that:
- At various times staffing at the nursing homes was not sufficient to provide adequate nursing care
- At various times wound care was not provided at the nursing home
- residents often did not receive their medication as prescribed
- medical records were falsified and a "charting party" occurred at SpringPlace to fill in medical records so that it appeared that all medication had been properly given, regardless of whether the medication was actually given or not
- the nursing homes submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid for services that were not provided or were worthless
The guilty plea is part of a settlement of criminal charges and a civil lawsuit that was originally filed by two whistle-blower employees in 2003. The ensuing investigation found that several residents were suffering from dehydration, weight loss, and preventable bed sores that led to amputations. One resident died after falling from a window.Other claims included falsification of residents’ medical records, failure to administer necessary medications.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said Cathedral Rock engaged in billing practices designed to defraud Medicare and Missouri Medicaid by submitting false cost reports to Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not provided. In addition, he said that substandard care was provided that contributed to serious injury or death of residents.
"This kind of fraudulent conduct is not to be tolerated,” Koster said. “To defraud the taxpayers and then offer grossly substandard care to those who cannot care for themselves is unconscionable.”
The Texas-based Corporation, which was founded by C. Kent Harrington, the current owner and CEO, advertises itself as “a company based on Integrity, Service and Teamwork.” The company’s website states, “our management team strives to provide quality care for our Residents and an uplifting, positive environment in which to work. Our Residents and their quality of life come first. Close behind is the company's second priority - our staff and true fulfillment in their jobs by helping those Residents have the best care possible.”
The Harvey Law Firm is currently engaged in litigation against Cathedral Rock for its operation of a New Mexico nursing home known as Santa Fe Nursing Operations/Santa Fe Care Center.
I was the volunteer ombudsman at Santa Fe Care Center in 2002-03? I was very active. The staff hated me, the residents loved me, but were afraid of retaliation. I'm sad to hear the place is the same cesspool it was when I was there. I attended the resident's dinner at least 3 time per week. More than 75% of the resident's ate less than 25% of their meal. I'll never forget meeting the outside dietary person who was so proud they held costs to $2.17 per day per resident. She didn't know who I was. Administration and staff---revolving door. People were forever signing off on things that hadn't been done. They used to write the date time and their name on the residen't attends. They didn't find that to be a dignity issue. There were many falls. A two person assist was unheard of and water containers were NEVER changed. Water was rarely offered to resident's who couldn't get it themselves.
Of course staffing is an issue. I'll never understand why no one ever did the simple math. The number of tasks times the time it takes, times the number of residents will show gross understaffing ALWAYS.
I never knew them as Cathedral. I think they were Peak and then something else. When they were Peak, there were scandals in Oklahoma. When you go back and do the research, you find the corporate layering and political ties.
I was fired by Long Term Care in front of Santa Fe Care Staff and administration for being "too strong and negative." Interestingly, this was on the day Santa Fe Care Center was being given a report on 250 violations.
They had me barred from the place. I managed to get back in to visit and feed several friends. A couple of times a week I'd bring shrimp and cheese and crackers and other snacks. Nothing changed, except many good friends passed. I had to stop visiting. There was to much MSSR and weird pneumonias. I have Lupus and my personal health was in danger.
My advice is do NOT rely on Long-Term Care Ombudsman's Office for any real support. They've known forever about the problems and NEVER come up with lasting solutions. I personally think it's political. Campaign money, lobbyists, and a corrupt state government.
What ever happened to the Nanny-Cam????