In an effort to better protect vulnerable adults in nursing homes, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is launching a new complaint system that creates a direct line between the Department and facility administrators who may notice warning signs of financial exploitation.
The new portal is now live and focuses on the tenth initiative in the Elder Abuse Task Force’s (EATF) second set of initiatives. Nursing home administrators will provide information directly to the Department’s Health Care Fraud Division for follow up and investigation.
If concerned staff knows or has reason to believe that someone is using a nursing home resident’s assets or benefits for purposes other than the care, needs and wishes of the resident, a complaint may be filed online.
The complaint system is accessed directly through the Department’s website at www.michigan.gov/ag/complaints.
“The safety and security of nursing home residents is one of my department’s top priorities,” said Nessel. “This portal will provide an avenue for nursing home employees to report suspected embezzlement and financial exploitation. If a facility knows a resident has a stream of income, but their patient account is in the red, it may be a warning sign that someone is siphoning away the patient’s assets. That concern can be reported via this portal directly to our team to evaluate for investigation. We look forward to working collaboratively with the long-term care community to root out and prosecute any suspected abuse.”
To learn more about the EATF online, visit www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/elder-abuse/elder-abuse-task-force.
Members of the general public may make a complaint regarding nursing home abuse to the attorney general’s hotline by calling 1-800-24-ABUSE.
The Department of Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $4,846,440 for federal fiscal year 2022. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,615,478, is funded by the State of Michigan.
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