The misappropriation resulted in state Attorney General Letitia James filing a lawsuit in Manhattan on Wednesday.
The lawsuit, filed against Centers Health Care owners and operators, accuses those named of using Medicare and Medicaid funds for individual gain and to enrich the lives of relatives and other associates. The funds were for the care of residents who, instead, were neglected.
Co-owners Daryl Hagler and Kenneth Rozenberg, businesses they own, business associates and family members were named in the lawsuit.
July 01, 2023
In a press conference, James said, "Residents were left alone and on their own, often unaided and unsupervised, leading to dangerous falls and broken bones. Residents lived in squalor, surrounded by neglected food trays, vermin, and the smell of human waste." James also noted that the homes were understaffed, increasing the level of neglect.
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The lawsuit also alleges meals were late, clothes went missing, and the call bells they used to request assistance were left unanswered. One resident, hospitalized for severe bed sores and sepsis, died. Some residents suffered from dehydration, and another resident's colostomy bag was not attached.
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According to Attorney General James, in 2020, over 400 residents across the four homes died during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the failure of homes to control the spread of the disease.
One family member, Cynthia Vega, describing the condition of her late uncle who stayed at Holliswood said, "My uncle was found sitting in a filthy room, unbathed and only wearing an adult diaper. This wasn't my uncle. George was a veteran. He was an artist."
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The four homes in the lawsuit include the Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Westchester County, Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Queens, and the Beth Abraham Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in the Bronx.
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Jeff Jacomowitz, a spokesperson for Centers Health Care, said, "Centers Health Care prides itself on its commitment to patient care. Centers denies the New York Attorney General's allegations wholeheartedly and attempted to resolve this matter out of court. We will fight these spurious claims with the facts on our side."
James is seeking monetary retribution, and no new residents are allowed at the centers until each home has increased its personnel.
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