“For years, Next Step prioritized profit over care by failing to adequately staff its nursing homes,” Campbell said in the announcement.
Massachusetts Nursing Home $4M Fine : Investigation Findings
The attorney general’s office said it learned through its investigation that the company had implemented staffing cuts in 2019 and continued to under-staff the facilities despite new state regulations setting minimum staffing requirements that went into effect in 2021. These actions were found to be in violation of the Massachusetts False Claims Act and the state’s consumer protection law due to the substandard care and fraudulent MassHealth claims.
Future Compliance and Oversight
The settlement was reached prior to any court action being filed. Campbell emphasized that she hopes this settlement “will send a message that this conduct will not be tolerated and ensure that Next Step’s facilities comply with staffing requirements moving forward, assuring that vulnerable elderly residents receive the proper care they need.”
