Petitioner: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Respondent: LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC., D/B/A LIFE CARE CENTER AT WELLS CROSSING
Judges: P. MICHAEL RUFF
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Apr. 12, 2005
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, March 7, 2006.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
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STATE OF FLORIDA OS APR Jp Py
AGENCY POR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION 4 fy
STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY POR HEALTH
CARY ADMINISTRATION,
Petitioner, AHICA NO: 2004011169
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LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
d/iva LIFE CARE CENTER AT WELLS CROSSING
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the AGENCY FOR HEALTIT CARE ADMINISTRATION
(°ALICA”), by and through undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint
against Life Care Centers of America, Inc. d/b/a Life Care Center at Wells Crossing
(“Respondent”) pursuant to Sections 120,569 and 120,57, Florida Statutes (2003), and alleges:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1, This is an action to impose an administrative fine in the amount of $21,936
against Respondent, pursuant to Sections 408.034 and 408.040, Florida Statutes (2003); and
Rules 59C-1.013 and $9C-£.021, Florida Administrative Code (2003).
2. Respondent failed to comply, for calendar year 2003, with the Medicaid
condition upon its Certificate of Need (“CON”) (Exhibit “A”).
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3. This tribunal has jurisdiction over Respondent, pursuant to Sections 120.569
and 120.57, Florida Statutes (2003), and Sections 408.031-408.45, !lorida Statutes (2003), the
“Health Facility aad Services Development Act.”
4. Venue shall be determined, pursuant to Chapter 28-106.207, Florida
Adiuiystrative Code (2003).
PARTIES
5, Pursuant to Chapter 408, Florida Statutes, and Chapler 59C-1, Vlorida
Adutinistrative Code, AUCA is the licensing and enforcing authority with regard to
comniunity nursing hoaie laws and rules.
6, Respondent is a corporation authorized under the Jaws of Florida to do
business and operates a Community Nursing Home located at 355 Crossing Boulevard,
Orange Park, FL 32073. Respondent is the licensce on the Certificate of Need issued on
November $, 1997, for the addition of nine nursing home beds to a 111 bed community
nursing haine with the condition that a minimun of 61.2% of its 120 bed [acility’s total
anuual paticat days shall be provided to Medicaid patients. fhe certificate number is CON
#8809 and a copy is allached to this complaint as [exhibit “A.”
COUNTI
Respondent fated to mect the condition that a minimum of 61.2% of ifs 120-bed-
facility’s total annual pationt days shall be provided to Medicaid patients.
§ 408.040, Ila. Stat. (2003)
Fla. Admin. Code R. 59C-1,013 (2003)
Hla. Admin. Code R. 59C-],021 (2003)
7, AHCA re-allegcs paragraphs 1-6 above.
8. Respondent filed an annual compliance report, which reflected that the facility
did net coinply with the Medicaid condition for the calendar year 2003 (Lixhibit “B”).
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Additionally, the Florida Nursing flome Utilization by District and Subdistrict January 2003-
December 2003 data indicates that the facility did not comply with the Medicaid condilion for
the calendar year 2003 (Exhibit “C”), based on the findings below, to wil:
a) Vhe Florida Nursing Home Utilization by District and Subdistrict January
2003 -December 2003 data indicates that the facility provided 51.44 percent of
the total annual patient days for the 120 bed facility to Medicaid paticnts and
the facitily report indicated that the facility provided 57.52 percent of the total
annual patient days for the 120 bed facility to Medicaid patients.
9. Respondent failed to comply wilh the condition sct forth in its Certificate of
Need, as required by Scctions 408.034 and 408.040, Florida Statutes (2003); and Rule 59C-
1.013, Morida Administrative Code (2003).
10. Compliance with the Medicaid condition upon which a Certificate of Need is
based is required in pertinent part, as follows:
§ 408.040, Fla. Stat, (2003)
Conditions and monitoring. (1)(a) The agency may issue a certificate of need
predicated upon sfatements of intent expressed by an appheant in the appheation for a
certificate of need. Any conditions imposed on a certificate of need bascd on such
stalements of intent shall be stated on the face of the certificate of need. (b) The agency
may coasider, in addition to the other criteria specified in s. 408.035, a statement of intent
by the applicant that a specified percentage of the annual patient days at the facility will be
utilized by patients cligible for care under Title XIX of the Social Sccurity Act. Any
certificate: of need issued to a mirsing home in reliance upon an applicant's statements that
a specified percentage of annual patient days will be unlized by residents cligible for care
under Title XIX of the Social Security Act must include a statement that such certification
is a condition of issuance of the certificate of need, The certificate-of-nced program shall
notify the Medicaid program office and the Department of Elderly Affairs when it
inposes conditions as authorized in this paragraph in an area in which a community
diversion pilot project is implemented. (c) A certificateholdcr may apply to the agency for
an modification of conditions imposed under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b). If the holder
of a certificate of need demonstrates good cause why the certificate should be modified,
ithe agency shall reissue the certificate of need with such modificalions as may be
appropriate. The agency shall by rule define the factors constiluting good cause for
modification. (A) Tf the holder of a certificate of nced fails to comply with a condition
upon which the issuance of the ccrlificate was predicated, the agency may assess an
administrative fine against the certificatcholder in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per
failice por day. Tn assessing the penalty, the agency shall take into account as mitigation
the relouve lack of scverily ofa particular failure.
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Fla. Admin, Code R. 59C-1.013 (2003)
Monitoring Procedures
abe
(4) Reporting Requirements Subsequent lo Licensure or Commencement of Services. All
holders of a cerlifiente of iced that was issucd predicated upon conditions expressed on
the [ace of the certificate of need shall provide annual comptiance reports to the agency.
The reporting period shall be January 1 through December 31 of each year. The holder of
a certificate of nced who began operation aller January 1 will report from the date
operation began through December 31. ‘lhe compliance report shal) be submitted no later
than April 1 of the subscquent year. (a) The compliance report will contain information
necessary for an asscssinent of compliance with conditions on the certificate of need,
utilizing measures, such as a perecatage of patient days, that are consistent with the stated
condition. ‘the following information shall be provided in the holder’s annual compliance
report: 1. The time period covered by the measures; 2. The measure for assessing
compliance with each of the conditions identified and described on the face of the
certificate of need; 3. The way in which the conditions were evaluated by applying the
measures; 4. ‘The data sources used to generate information about the conditions that were
vocasured; 5, The person and position responsible for supplying the compliance report; 6.
Any other information nee y for the agency lo determine compliance with conditions;
and 7. Ff applicable, the reason or reasons, with supporting data, why the certificate of
need hofder was unable to meel the conditions sct forth on the face of the certificate of
ued. (b) A change in the licensee for a facility or service does not affect the obligation for
that fucilily or service to continue lo meet conditions imposed on a certificate of nced and
to provide annual condition compliance reports. (c) Conditions imposed on a certificate of
need may be iodified consistent with Rule 59C-1.019, F.A.C. (5) Violation of Certificate
of Need Conditions. Health care providers found by the agency to be in noncompliance
with conditions sel forth in their certificate of need shall be fined as defined in Rule 59C-
1.021, FLAC.
HW. The forevoing violation warrants a fine of $21,936, to wil:
¥la. Admin. Code R. 59C-1.021 (2003)
Penalties (1) General Provisions. ‘The agency shall initiate administrative proceedings
for revocation of a certificate of need for violation of paragraphs 408.040(2)(a) and (b),
I.S., or the assessment of administrative fines for fatlure to comply with conditions placed
ona ceitificate of need as specified under Rale $9C-1.013, F.A.C
AEE
(3) Penalties for Failuce (o Conuply with Certificate of Need Conditions. The agency shall
review the annual compliance report submitted by the health care providers who are
licensed and operate the facilitics or services and other pertinent data fo assess comphance
with ceitifieate of aced conditions. Providers who ure not in compliance with certificate of
need conditions shill be fined. For community nursing homes or hospital-based skilled
nursing units certified as such by Medicare, the first compliance report on the status of
conditions nnist be submitted 30 calendar days following the cighteenth month of
operahon or the first month where an 85 percent occupancy is achicved, whichever comes
first. The schedule of fines is as follows: (a) Facilities failing to comply with any
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conditions set forth on the Certificate of Need will be assessed a fine, not to exceed $1,000
per foture per day, In assessing the penalty the agency shall take into account the relative
lack of severity of a particular failure. (b) The assessed fine shall be paid to the agency
willtin 45 catendar days after written notification of assessment by certified mail or within
30 calendar days aller Jinal agency action if an administrative hearing has been requested.
Ifa health care provider desires it may remit payment according to a payment schedule
accepted by the agensy. The health care provider must submit the schedule of payments to
the apency within 30 calendar days aller the date of receipt of the notification of
assessment or 21 calendar days after final agency action. The final balance will be duc no
later than 6 months afier the health care provider has been notified in writing by the
agency of the amount of the assessed line or 6 months aller final agency action.
12. AUCA, in delenuining the penalty imposed, considered the degree of non-
complinuee and the rctative lack of severily of a particular failure.
WIEKBREFORE, ALICA demands the following relic:
lL. Enter factual and legal findings as set forth in the allegations of this count;
2. finpose a line in the amount of $21,936 for the referenced violation; and
3. Impose such other relief as this (cibumal may find appropriate.
NOTICE
Respondent, Life Care Center at Wells Crossing, is notified that il has a right to
request an administealive heaving pursuant to Scction 120.569, Florida Statutes. Specific
options for adrainistralive action are set out in the attached Election of Rights (one page) and
explained in the atiachicd Lxplanation of Rights (one page). All requests for hearing shall be
made to the Agency for Health Care Adininistration, and delivered to the Agency for Health
Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Bldg. 3, MS #3, Tallahassee, Florida, 32308;
Attention: Agency Cleck.
RESPONDENT IS FURTIVER NOTIFIED, IF TOE REQUEST FOR HEARING IS
NOT RECEIVED BY ‘THK AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
WITHIN TWENTY-ONE Q1) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF TRIS ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT, A FINAL ORDER WILL BE ENTERED.
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Submitted on this_{f ~ day of _ Lc CoA 2005,