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Despite Recent Improvements, Oakwood Could Still Lose Millions
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
April 24, 2008

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY--An administrative law judge ruled Tuesday that the federal government has the power to withhold millions of dollars from the state of Kentucky because of a series of cases of abuse and neglect at the state-run Communities at Oakwood.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which pays for nearly one-half of the operating costs at the institution, decided to cut off funding in September 2005 after the facility had received its fifth "Type A" citation, the most serious kind of citation the government can give for health and safety violations.

The facility went on to receive another 21 such citations over the following year, as it appealed the federal government's decision.

The state contracted with an out-of-state agency to operate Oakwood for one year. After more violations kept mounting, however, it turned operations over to a regional mental health agency. The citations have since stopped.

More than 200 people with intellectual disabilities are housed at what is now known as Bluegrass Oakwood.

Nearly 100 people have been transferred out of Oakwood over the past two years.

Related:
"Oakwood's funds could be cut off, judge rules" (Courier-Journal)

"Communities at Oakwood" (Inclusion Daily Express Archives)

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