Dive Brief:
- The Department of Justice announced last week it is launching 10 regional Elder Justice Task Forces around the U.S. to coordinate efforts among federal, state and local authorities to go after nursing homes providing "grossly substandard care" to their patients.
- The task forces will include members from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, state and local prosecutors’ offices, the Department of Health and Human Services, state Adult Protective Services agencies, Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs and law enforcement.
- "By bringing everyone to the table, we will be able to more effectively and quickly pursue nursing homes that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of their residents," said Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the DOJ's Civil Division, in a prepared statement.
Dive Insight:
The 10 new Elder Justice Task Forces underscore the broader efforts of the DOJ's Elder Justice Initiative to protect seniors from substandard care, and put nursing home operators on notice. The announcement notes The Elder Justice Initiative will be supporting the new task forces with litigation support and training.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery said in a prepared statement. “Yet, all too often we have found nursing home owners or operators who put their own economic gain before the needs of their residents."
Delery says the new task forces will help to make sure all relevant parties are working to help protect the elderly.
The 10 task forces are set to be launched in the Northern District of California, Northern District of Georgia, District of Kansas, Western District of Kentucky, Northern District of Iowa, District of Maryland, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Tennessee and the Western District of Washington.