Bellevue Lawyer Stephen Hornbuckle Discusses How Nursing Homes are Gaming the System

    BELLEVUE, WA, November 04, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bellevue nursing home abuse lawyer Stephen Hornbuckle encourages family members to do their due diligence before selecting a nursing home. According to Mr. Hornbuckle due to inefficiencies in the Medicare Compare rating system, nursing homes are misleading consumers. He cited a recent article in the NY Times that discussed how nursing homes are gaming the Medicare Compare ratings.

Mr. Hornbuckle tried a case last year (Hair v. Manor Care) where his primary theory of the case focused on fraudulent reporting to Medicare for the purpose of boosting the facility's Medicare compare ratings. The allegation was that the facility knowingly reported untrue information to Medicare about whether the plaintiff had a bed sore. The facility described the bedsore as a cut or abrasion, which even their own expert admitted was inaccurate.

"The number of bed sores in a facility affects their Medicare compare ratings," said nursing home abuse lawyer Stephen Hornbuckle. "I alleged that they falsely reported to Medicare about the wound because they were concerned that truthfully reporting a bed sore would drive down the Medicare compare rating."

Mr. Hornbuckle says cases like these are becoming all too common. According to the New York Times article, Medicare ratings are based largely on self-reported data by the nursing homes and do not include negative information such as fines and other enforcement actions by state. While the rating systems are meant to improve and monitor nursing home conditions, some nursing homes have figured out how to game the rating system giving consumers a false sense of security. He says family members should contact a nursing home abuse lawyer immediately if they see any warning signals.

The Hornbuckle Law Firm specializes in nursing home abuse and has represented victims throughout Tacoma, Seattle, neighboring communities in the SeaTac area and all counties across the state of Washington. For more information, or to schedule a consultation with an experienced Bellevue nursing home lawyer, please contact 1-800-532-2655, or fill out a form on their website to request a nursing home abuse consultation.

About The Hornbuckle Firm

The Hornbuckle Firm is a full-service law firm that specializes in nursing home abuse. They offer a wide variety of services including Brain injuries, Nursing home neglect & abuse, Medical malpractice, Wrongful death, Car accidents, Construction accidents, Premises liability, Product liability, Drug injuries and defective medical devices, and Asbestos Exposure. They prodly serve victims and their families throughout Tacoma, Seattle, neighboring communities in the SeaTac area and all counties across the state of Washington. For more information, please visit: http://www.thehornbucklefirm.com/.

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