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STATE SAYS ARIZONA VETERANS HOME PASSES

RE-INSPECTION -- A survey had found problems in

such areas as patient care, monitoring of smoking

and lack of response to residents' activation

of call buttons.

 

Arizona State Veteran Home in Phoenix

 

Background with backlinks here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf041407-6.htm

Story here... http://kvoa.com/
Global/story.asp?S=6481968

Story below:

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Agency: Ariz. vets home passes re-inspection

PHOENIX -- The state's nursing home for veterans passed a re-inspection three months after an earlier survey found shortcomings in care that put residents in jeopardy, state regulators announced Monday.

The unannounced survey by state Department of Health Services inspectors last week on behalf of the federal Medicare agency found the 200-bed nursing home in Phoenix in "substantial compliance" with federal standards, DHS said.

A formal notice will be submitted to the federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services within 10 days, DHS said.

The state inspectors will recommend that the federal agency recertify the home to provide Medicaid and Medicare services, said Sylvia Balistreri, DHS program manager for long-term care licensing.

The findings also allow the home to be relicensed by the state, DHS said.

An annual survey conducted in February found problems in such areas as patient care, monitoring of smoking and lack of response to residents' activation of call buttons.

The February inspection findings prompted the federal agency to impose a $10,000 penalty on the home.

Since the results of the February inspection were disclosed in late March, the state Department of Veterans' Services director has resigned and several home officials either have quit or been fired.

The department's acting director, a retired National Guard brigadier general, has assured lawmakers that changes have been made to address the problems found by the February inspection.

The home gets its operating budget from fees paid by various government programs and individual veterans.

However, Gov. Janet Napolitano has requested a $3.5 million state appropriation, and lawmakers are moving to include that amount in the next state budget.

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Larry Scott  --