Benton Home For Mentally Ill May Close
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
It`s looking more likely that a state-run nursing
home for the mentally ill will lose its federal funding and could
be forced to close its doors.
Six patients have died at the Arkansas Health Center over the
past year, resulting in fines and demands for reform. The patient
deaths were linked to staff mistakes or failed policies.
Carol Shockley, head of the Office of Long Term Care, says the
office finished its evaluation of the Arkansas Health Center in
Benton last night. Shockley says state regulators will advise
federal Medicare officials that the mental home still has NOT
complied with regulations.
But she says there`s still a chance the Medicare regional office
could extend the center`s deadline for compliance. State and
federal regulators are to consult next week and should have a
report by next Friday, the current deadline.
