(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has recently seen a spike in complaints regarding alleged abuse and neglect at Ohio nursing homes.
So far this year, the Attorney General's Office has opened 131 abuse and neglect cases, as compared to 74 cases in the same time period last year. Sixty-three of those cases were opened following Attorney General DeWine's announcement earlier this month that authorities with his office were aggressively investigating nursing homes that are allegedly providing inadequate care.
"I believe that the majority of Ohio's nursing facilities are providing excellent care, but not all of them," said Attorney General DeWine. "We are going after the facilities that cause harm to their residents, and we will use in-room hidden cameras if necessary."
On June 6, 2013, Attorney General DeWine joined officials from the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Aging to announce plans to revoke the license of Autumn Healthcare in Zanesville. The decision to close the facility was made, in part, after an investigation by the MCFU revealed instances where some staff members did not provide proper medical, nutritional, and personal care to at least one patient. Revocation proceedings are ongoing.
Anyone who suspects Medicaid fraud or patient abuse or neglect is urged to contact Attorney General DeWine's Office at 800-282-0515.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840