New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Two employees at a Staten Island long-term care facility, Lily Pond Nursing Home, recently lost their respective licenses after a 40 year-old resident was abused. Cynthia Ferry, a Certified Nurse Aide at the facility, was observed by an EMT striking the 40-year old resident in the head.

Josefina Bernabe, a Licensed Practical Nurse, worked the evening shift as a Nurse Supervisor on the night of the assault. She was advised by the EMT worker that he witnessed C.N.A. Ferry strike the resident on the head. After being informed of the incident, LPN Bernabe told the EMT worker not to report it to protect Ferry from getting in trouble.

Both employees were charged by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office. As a result of the charges, both were forced to surrender their respective licenses (Ferry - C.N.A.; Bernabe - L.P.N.) with the condition the they refrain from engaging in any employment in the health care field.

Long-Term Care Community Coalition, Enforcement Actions, 3/16/11 - 6/15/11.

A key facet to President Obama's health care reform initiative has been eliminating health care fraud throughout the United States. Yesterday, charges were announced against 91 individuals, accusing them of fraudulently obtaining approximately $300 million from the Medicare system. One of the most shocking indictments involves a doctor billing Medicare for services provided to the deceased, as well as providing psycotherapy sessions in excess of 24 hours a day.

US Attorney General Eric Holder announced the arrests yesterday with Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary. FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry said in a statement: "[T]he health care system is part of our nation's infrastructure, and we must do everything in our power to protect the integrity of Medicare."

On many levels, the Obamacare initiative has been a polarizing issue for the American people. It will certainly remain so througout the upcoming presidential campaign, as both politicians and voters take sides to debate its value, constitutionality, and long-term effects. One issue that does not seem to be in debate, however, is the need to stop Medicare fraud from adversely affecting our elder population and diverting funds from this segment of our population most in need of them. The announcement of these arrests yesterday marks a victory for the fight against Medicare fraud as well as for our elderly population much in need of Medicare's continued financial support.

Website Resource: 91 charged with Medicare fraud across U.S.

Washington Post, Jerry Markon, September 7, 2011