Assisted Living Concepts Evicts Medicaid Residents

The Menomonee Falls based Assisted Living Concepts is evicting residents of their assisted-living facilities when they become eligible for Medicaid.

Since becoming publicly held, Assisted Living Concepts has worked to convert all of its centers to so-called private-pay residents, who pay higher rates than Medicaid pays.

Assisted Living Concepts, previously a subsidiary of Extendicare Inc., operates 216 assisted-living centers, including 12 facilities in Wisconsin.

Recently, New Jerseys Deaprtment of the Public Advocate contended that Assisted Living Concepts repeatedly misled residents about whether they could remain in their homes if forced to draw on Medicaid for their care.

In fact, Assisted Living Concepts has been asking residents to recruit new clients in exchange for an $800 deduction in a residents monthly fee for each successful referral. However, Assisted Living Concepts also warns that rates will increase if the current residents arent successful in referring new ones.

In the state of Washington, families were told that their relatives could remain if they depleted their savings, however Assisted Living Concepts has forced more than 30 residents to leave two of its centers in 2007 and 2008.

In New Jersey, state regulators contend that Assisted Living Concepts policy violates commitments made when its eight centers in the state were licensed.

The company asked a state court to declare that it is not bound by those commitments. Both, the state and Assisted Living Concepts, are waiting for the court to rule.

PKSD is a Wisconsin law firm with a devoted nursing home abuse practice.