Inclusion Daily Express -- Illinois Institution Loses Medicaid Funds

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Illinois Institution Loses Medicaid Funds
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 20, 2007

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--Failure to properly care for about 400 residents with developmental disabilities had caused the Howe Developmental Center to lose Medicaid funding, which amounts to about one-half of the state-run institution's budget.

The news of the Medicaid loss came after a three-week visit by public health investigators -- who concluded that staff at HDC were not implementing polices and procedures for the proper care of residents -- and after the state's protection and advocacy system called again for the facility's closure.

In a March 8 press release, Equip for Equality said that the deaths of three HDC residents in recent weeks point further to the need to shut the institution down.

In one case, a woman died of a heart attack soon after she was restrained during a Pap smear without receiving any medication for her anxiety. In another case, a resident who was at high risk of developing blood clots, apparently died from a clot after staff failed to provide medication, physical therapy and adequate movement to prevent clots. A third case involved a resident with dangerously high blood pressure who was " unlawfully restrained numerous times" without a doctor's order before he died of an apparent heart attack.

Last month, a coalition of Illinois disability groups sent a letter to Governor Rod Blagojevich, calling for him to stop any new admissions to the facility and begin the process of closing it, following an investigation into the deaths of 8 other residents at the facility since September 2005.

Tracey Scruggs, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Human Services, told the Daily Southtown that losing Medicaid money does not mean that HDC will be closing.

Deborah Kennedy, Director of Equip for Equality's Abuse Investigation Unit, said she was disappointed the state is still committed to keeping the facility open.

Related:
"Howe loses half of budget" (Daily Southtown)
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/305903,212NWS1.article
"Press release: Equip for Equality Urgently Calls for Closure of Dangerous State-Run Institution for People with Disabilities"
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0320c.htm
"Coalition Calls For Governor To Close Another Troubled Institution" February 16, 2007 (Inclusion Daily Express)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/07/02/16/021607ilhowedc.htm

Copyright © 2007 Inonit Publishing
Please do not reprint, forward, or post without permission.

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