Falsifying Staffing Records

A former employee at Madison Health and Rehabilitation Center in Kentucky has filed a whistleblower lawsuit, claiming she was asked to falsify staffing records where she worked.

Her attorney, Justin Peterson, says she raised concerns about improper staffing practices and ultimately resigned after refusing to carry out requests she believed were fraudulent.

Peterson alleges facility officials were concerned about low staffing numbers leading to an unsatisfactory risk assessment and additional scrutiny from regulators.

The lawsuit claims officials planned to have a registered nurse record shifts that were never worked. Written time cards were falsified, and the doctored records were submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, leading to higher rates of reimbursement.

The allegations extend beyond reimbursement concerns, though, as data from CMS has linked low coverage by RNs to worse outcomes for care, including higher likelihoods of infection rates, falls, pressure sores, malnutrition, and dehydration.

To many plaintiff litigators, the claims of this lawsuit should come as no surprise. It is well known that nursing homes have padded their staffing numbers sent to CMS in return for higher reimbursements and better assessments.

What can be hoped for is that this truth will be revealed as this suit goes before the court system.