U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom announced today he is launching an Elder Justice Task Force in Kansas.
The task force in Kansas – one of 10 across the country — will bring federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies together with state and local agencies to target nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to residents.
“We already have one investigation open,” Grissom said. “We’re not wasting time.”
Grissom said the members of the task force at this time include the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Kansas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Later, he said, he expects to invite state agencies that work with long term care, public health and aging to join.
“Our office is excited to join forces with our federal, state, and local partners to identify nursing homes that are providing substandard quality of care to our elderly beneficiaries,” said Steve Hanson, special agent in charge of the Kansas City regional office of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said acting associate attorney general Stuart F. Delery, in Washington, D.C. “Yet, all too often we have found nursing home owners or operators who put their own economic gain before the needs of their residents. These task forces will help ensure that we are working closely with all relevant parties to protect the elderly.”
Elder Justice Task Forces also are being launched by U.S. attorneys in the following districts: Northern District of California, Northern District of Georgia, Western District of Kentucky, Northern District of Iowa, District of Maryland, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Tennessee and the Western District of Washington.
Kansas was chosen, Grissom said, because it has expertise in investigations and prosecutions of nursing homes and made a commitment to working together with state and local agencies.
The Elder Justice Task Forces reflect the Justice Department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting the nation’s seniors, spearheaded by the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative. The Elder Justice Initiative coordinates and supports the department’s law enforcement efforts and policy activities on elder justice issues. It plays an integral role in the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Elder Justice Initiative will be providing litigation support and training to the Elder Justice Task Forces. For more information, see http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.