Three nursing home chains in Washington state settled allegations that they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying admission to residents due to substance use disorder and failed to provide a sign-language interpreter for a patient who is deaf.
Avalon Health Care Management manages three care centers in Western Washington. The facilities allegedly engaged in discrimination by denying admission to people with a substance use disorder, in some cases because they were prescribed FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder. As part of the settlement, Avalon will submit a nondiscrimination policy to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review and post the approved policy in its facilities. It will also train staff and will keep training and admission logs for review by the government. They will also pay $12,000, $10,000 of which is suspended pending compliance with the requirements, according to an Oct. 26 Justice Department news release.
Arcadia Medical Resorts, which operates two skilled nursing facilities in Renton, Wash., also allegedly denied admission to patients with a substance use disorder. They agreed to update their policy, undertake new training and keep logs of training and admission. They will also pay $12,000, $10,000 of which is suspended pending compliance with the requirements.
Avalon Health Care-Federal Way agreed to pay $20,500 to a patient to settle allegations that it violated the ADA by failing to provide the individual with a sign-language interpreter during the month they were in the facility. Avalon disputed many of the government findings, but chose to settle the matter. It agreed to put training, policies and procedures in place to ensure staff do not violate the ADA and provide appropriate communications services to patients who need assistance.