Two homes that care for mentally retarded patients on Oahu are expected to be decertified and could be shut down after failing to meet federal standards. 2 Oahu care homes
face decertificationThe Arc-run facilities
could be shut down
after failing to meet
federal standards
By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comThe nonprofit Arc in Hawaii has until March 3 to submit a correction plan for its homes in Ewa and Halawa to state health officials or the agency will lose the facilities' licenses, said Dianne Okumura, acting chief of the Office of Health Care Assurance of the state Department of Health.
This is the second pair of Arc in Hawaii intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded facing loss of Medicaid reimbursements within a year.
Last year, two Arc facilities, in Makiki and on Kauai, were closed after losing their licenses for similar problems that included inadequate staffing to carry out programs for patients, said Garrett Toguchi, executive director for Arc in Hawaii.
The organization runs 23 such facilities statewide.
Health officials are expected to meet with Arc in Hawaii board members tomorrow to discuss how the organization can continue licenses for the Ewa and Halawa facilities.
If a facility is decertified, an organization has an option to continue its license with the state, but the facility will not receive Medicaid reimbursements, Okumura said.
No official was available to say how much Medicaid funds the facilities receive.
"Our primary concern is providing quality care for our clients," said Arc in Hawaii President Lambert Wai. "I hope we can work out something. We hope to see what options we have available."
Ten adult patients reside at the Ewa "A" and Halawa homes. Both provide 24-hour care for patients.
Wai said he was bothered by the decertification notice and plans to find out what went wrong at the facilities.
Last October, federal agents conducted a survey of the facilities when serious deficiencies were reported, Okumura said.
The facilities failed to meet standards for the active treatment program.
The Halawa facility also did not meet standards for client protection, Okumura said.
Arc in Hawaii officials submitted a plan to correct the reported deficiencies, but the facilities did not meet federal standards when agents from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services returned in January to administer a follow-up.
The organization received notification on Feb. 6 that both facilities will lose certification March 3.
Okumura said state agents plan to conduct their own investigation of the two facilities.
"We're trying to pursue any means we can so they can keep their house," said Toguchi.
Last year, the Dominis facility in Makiki was shut down in October and the Wailua facility on Kauai closed a month later after the organization opted to terminate the licenses when the facilities were decertified by federal agents.
Arc in Hawaii
State Health Department