Hallmark Living Kalamazoo, a nursing home located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has recently received a termination notice from the Department of Health and Human Services. This notice removes the facility from the Medicaid and Medicare programs due to its failure to comply with 10 Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements. These requirements include aspects such as resident rights, freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, comprehensive care plans, and quality of care. The termination is set to take effect on April 23, 2019.
One resident's family member, Donald Roe, shared his experience with the facility, stating that his brother, George Roe, who suffers from dementia, was transferred there from a Battle Creek nursing home. While initially satisfied with the care provided, Donald noticed a decline in the level of care over time. He recounted instances where his brother's personal needs were ignored, leading to discomfort and neglect. Donald also described situations where residents were left unattended after meals, highlighting potential issues with staff responsiveness and overall quality of care.
Despite some positive ratings for resident care quality, Hallmark Living Kalamazoo received a one-star overall rating on the U.S. Medicare website, indicating a "much below average" health inspection rating from its last inspection in June 2018. The facility also received multiple health-related citations during this inspection. These findings suggest potential areas of improvement for the facility to ensure better compliance with regulatory requirements and standards of care.
As of the termination notice issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Hallmark Living Kalamazoo will no longer be able to receive payments for skilled nursing facility services through the Medicare program for new residents admitted after December 6, 2018. Existing residents admitted before this date may continue to receive payments for up to 30 days of services after April 23, 2019. Similarly, Medicaid residents admitted after December 6, 2018, will not have Federal Financial Participation available, with existing residents eligible for up to 30 days of covered services beyond the termination date.