CMS imposes fines of more than $278k for Woodbriar Health Center

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid has imposed a $278,900 fine against Woodbriar Health Center. The unusually steep fine will climb $7,100 a day until the most significant problems are fixed at the Wilmington, Mass., nursing home.

Regulators determined the fine based on Woodbriar’s "history of noncompliance, including repeated deficiencies," as well as its "degree of culpability, including but not limited to, neglect, indifference, or disregard for resident care, comfort or safety," according to a letter made public this week.

CMS noted only two of the problems discovered during a surprise March 21 inspection but alludes to at least one problem areas having gotten worse and three new areas of concern discovered, reports The Boston Globe. 

If the nursing home does not fix the remaining serious problems by April 14, it could be terminated from Medicare and Medicaid. Last month, regulators declared Woodbriar residents are in "immediate jeopardy" and ordered the facility to stop accepting new residents.

Two Woodbriar residents have died from fall-related injuries since December, and there are reports of substandard care and a confirmed outbreak of scabies. Woodbriar is owned by Synergy Health Centers, a New Jersey based-company that owns 10 other nursing homes in the state and is licensed to care for more than 1,200 residents.

Read more: Training went unheeded at Woodbriar Health Center, say Mass. regulators

Woodbriar residents in ‘immediate jeopardy,’ say Mass. regulators

Woodbriar’s plan to address resident death unacceptable, say Mass. state regulators

Scabies present at Synergy Health Center nursing home

Nursing home resident dies after improper mechanical chair transfer

Complaints about 11 Mass. nursing homes

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.