State inspection woes might soon be resolved at Nodaway Nursing Home with an agreement between facility representatives and Medicare/Medicaid officials that would allow the facility to again bill at least one of the insurance providers.

David Duncan, president of Tiffany Care Centers –– which oversees the Nodaway Nursing Home –– said the agreement calls for the nursing home to withdraw from both Medicare and Medicaid on Monday, Dec. 1 –– meaning no new patients could be taken.

He said on that day forward, state officials could again come into the facility for an inspection and –– if no problems arise –– representatives could again bill Medicaid.
However, Duncan added it could take about nine months before facility representatives could reapply for Medicare.

For current residents at the facility, he said they have 30 days after December 1 to have their care billed to both providers.

In his letter to residents and families, Duncan said the above stipulations shouldn't affect any of the current residents at the facility and that he's confident about it passing the state inspections sometime next month.

"This agreement is probably the best that could happen out of the situation without having to go to trial or deal with legal fees," Duncan said. "So really this is the best way to proceed with little to no impact to our residents."

Last month, state officials announced the nursing home would no longer be allowed to bill both health insurance providers — Medicare or Medicaid — for new patients after Oct. 28 unless the facility corrected problems that failed three previous inspections.

Previous citations were for clerical matters such as not following protocol to properly document and monitor patients. A fourth inspection also found an additional deficiency concerning the proper certification of a staff member along with the former deficiencies not being corrected.

However, the matter was taken to federal court ––– essentially stopping the billing cancelation until the matter is decided.