New Jersey Medicaid fraud: Trio of relatives swindled millions while neglecting patient care, state comptroller reveals.
Three individuals who managed a network of nursing homes in New Jersey are facing a ban from Medicaid provider status following an investigation by the state comptroller’s office. The investigation uncovered that the individuals were diverting millions of dollars into their personal accounts and other businesses while neglecting the residents under their care. The report, released by the comptroller’s office, highlighted serious issues such as unsanitary conditions, medical neglect, and abuse at South Jersey Extended Care in Bridgeton. This nursing home, along with another facility operated by the men, Sterling Manor in Maple Shade, has consistently received a low one-star rating from the federal government.
The individuals involved in operating these nursing homes – Mordechay Weisz, Steven Krausman, and Michael Konig – engaged in unethical practices such as awarding contracts to companies they had ownership stakes in, inflating prices, and failing to deliver the promised goods and services. This put the residents at risk and compromised their well-being. Acting state comptroller Kevin Walsh stated that the men took advantage of vulnerable individuals seeking better care but were unable to access it, resulting in financial gain for themselves.
State inspections at South Jersey Extended Care revealed disturbing conditions, including a room infested with flies and smelling of urine, a dirty refrigerator, and a broken toilet left unrepaired for days. In one instance, an inspector discovered that a resident with dementia had been locked in a room by a nurse’s aide using a trash bag to tie the door shut. The comptroller’s report also mentioned allegations of abuse, such as a staff member mishandling a resident in a wheelchair, causing the resident to fall and sustain an abdominal injury requiring hospitalization.
The actions of these individuals not only endangered the residents in their care but also violated ethical and legal standards. As a result of the investigation findings, they are facing consequences that include being barred from Medicaid provider status. This serves as a warning to others in the healthcare industry that such misconduct will not be tolerated and that the well-being of vulnerable individuals must always be the top priority.
Source: The NY Times
