PHILADELPHIA, PA — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a False Claims Act complaint against ProMedica Health System, Inc. and several affiliated entities, alleging that four nursing homes under its ownership provided grossly substandard care to residents and submitted false claims to federal healthcare programs.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, names ProMedica, its subsidiary HCR ManorCare Inc., and four nursing facilities located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. The facilities include:
- ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation – Pottstown (Pennsylvania)
- ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation – Riverview (Ohio)
- ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation – Greenville East (South Carolina)
- ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation – Imperial (Virginia)
Allegations of Substandard Care and False Documentation
According to the government’s complaint, between 2017 and 2023, the four facilities allegedly failed to meet the standards of care required under the Nursing Home Reform Act. Among the allegations, the nursing homes:
- Failed to develop or follow individualized care plans for residents
- Did not provide adequate wound care to prevent or treat pressure ulcers
- Neglected to maintain proper hygiene, including required showers and basic personal care
- Failed to assist residents with feeding, leading in some cases to severe weight loss
The complaint also asserts that staff at times falsified medical records, documenting care and services that were never actually provided.
Government Warns of Accountability
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized that the lawsuit reflects a broader effort to hold long-term care providers accountable when they fail to protect vulnerable residents.
“An increasing number of older adults and persons with disabilities are residing in long-term care facilities,” Metcalf said. “These residents are often particularly vulnerable to inadequate assessment and treatment of their needs. Today’s complaint again serves notice to the nursing home industry that a failure to provide adequate nursing home care will not be tolerated.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Division, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the government’s role in protecting elderly and infirm residents. “Grossly substandard care places nursing home residents at serious risk of harm, and this suit sends a clear message that we will pursue healthcare providers who fail to meet their legal obligations,” Shumate said.
Coordinated Federal Investigation
The complaint is the result of a joint investigation involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The case is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Compton v. HCR ManorCare, Inc., et al., No. 16-cv-0851 (E.D. Pa.).
No Determination of Liability Yet
The Justice Department noted that the claims outlined in the complaint are allegations only and that no determination of liability has been made at this stage.
If proven, the allegations could result in significant financial penalties and corrective measures for the affected facilities, underscoring the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that federal healthcare funds are used to provide residents with safe and appropriate care.
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