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Judge orders 2 SW IA care centers closed

News

March 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A judge in Des Moines agreed Friday to a state request to “wind down” and eventually close two southwest Iowa care centers. According to the Omaha World-Herald Faith Ridge Life Center of Malvern,  a 51-bed nursing home, and Kevington Lane, of Sidney, a 21-bed residential care facility, allegedly owe the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) hundreds of thousands of dollars in Medicaid funds. The facilities serve people who need a lower level of care than in a nursing home.

The DHS has suspended further payment of Medicaid funds to the businesses, which are owned by Mary Morse-Bolton of Plattsmouth, Neb. District Court Judge Mary Pat Gunderson, who issued Friday’s order, earlier granted a state request to appoint a receiver for the two facilities so the government gets money that it says it’s owed.

Morse-Bolton could not be reached for comment, but family members laid the blame for the centers’ financial troubles on the state.