Should nursing homes use patient personal health accounts to purchase supplies for the facility?
I recently found out, quite by accident, that my mother's nursing home used her personal health benefits to purchase supplies for the building.
Last month I purchased some health supplies for my mother through her personal health benefits that are a part of her insurance benefits. The products never arrived. I called daily to try and track down the supplies but no one I spoke to was knowledgeable.
Several weeks later I went to order more supplies and discovered that my mother's account was depleted of points. Further conversation revealed that her account had been used by the faciltiy to order a very large quantity of a particular toiletry. Several other patient accounts were used to purchase the same in large quantites.
I called the facility to ask why my mother's account had been used without my knowledge and consent. An administrator called me to apologetically say that it was an oversight not to discuss the order with me first, but I could have the supplies if I wanted them, their goal was to make me happy, I declined as it was too large a quantity and my mother doesn't use the item. I was told the missing supplies I had ordered would be replaced. It came to light that the original missing supplies were picked up by another unit and the invoice revealed my mother's account number allowing an order to be placed in her name. However, the supplies were never redirected back to my mother.
Is this a common practice? Should I be alarmed? Do I take any further action? Thank you for answering!
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As far as the missing supplies you ordered, they should replace them for your mother.
This is fraud. That money is to be used for her needs only. They need signed permission from Mom or her representative to use it. REPORT THEM. She should be getting diapers and toiletries thru the home. If there is certain things she likes that is what the PNA acct is for. You buy them, show a receipt and get reimbursed. You should be getting a statement. I agree, call the Ombudsman to investigate. Or go to the State who inspects them. They know what they r doing is wrong.
The Personal Needs Allowance is the monthly sum of money that
residents who receive Medicaid may retain from their personal income. Any income above the allowance is applied toward the cost of their care. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, cigarettes, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. Federal regulations prohibit long-term care facilities from charging residents’ PNA for services that are included in Medicaid payments such as toothpaste, tissues, shampoo, and incontinence products, among other things.