APNewsBreak: Abuse in nursing homes unreported despite law
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press
Published: August 28, 2017, 9:39am
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The Department of Health and Human Services building is seen in Washington. A government audit finds that more than 1 in 4 cases of possible sexual and physical abuse against nursing home patients apparently went unreported to police. The Health and Human Services inspector general’s office faults Medicare for failing to enforce a federal law that requires nursing homes to immediately notify police. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
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Audit: Nursing home abuse cases unreported
More than 1 in 4 cases of possible sexual and physical abuse against nursing home patients apparently went unreported to police, according to a government audit that faults Medicare for failing to enforce a federal law requiring immediate notification.
The Health and Human Services inspector general’s office issued an “early alert” Monday on preliminary findings from a large sampling of cases in 33 states.
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