ST. LOUIS — Federal regulators imposed a $55,000 fine after St. Louis’ largest nursing home closed without warning, though experts said the amount raised will likely be smaller.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the fine in a letter to the owners of Northview Village, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The 320-bed specialized nursing home closed suddenly on December 15 as the company that owned it struggled to meet payroll payments. From then on and through Dec. 17, when Northview gave up its Medicare and Medicaid contracts, it was “in violation,” according to documents released this week.
The federal agency’s letter states that if Northview waives its right to a hearing, the fine of $18,770 per day for that three-day period will be reduced by 35%.
Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, an advocacy group, said that is the standard for the agency’s penalties. He said fines are often reduced or eliminated.
“Given what happened here, I believe it is a fine well below what this operator’s egregious conduct deserves,” he said.
Members of the nursing home ownership group did not immediately return calls Wednesday from the Post-Dispatch or The Associated Press seeking comment.
The closure was chaotic, with many patients left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, causing confusion and outrage among residents and their families. Some were moved without their medical records or medication lists.
One resident with schizophrenia went missing more than three weeks before he was found.
Complicating the closure, Northview housed many Medicaid residents who couldn’t get into other long-term care facilities, including people with mental health and behavioral problems, resident advocates say.
“Despite everything that has happened, it doesn’t seem like much,” said Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE, the regional nursing home ombudsman program.
Last month, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, called for a federal investigation into the owners and an investigation into Missouri’s system of nursing home oversight.
As of Wednesday, Bush’s office had not received a response from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was not aware of any other actions against Northview.