Posted on 11/27/2002 6:40:42 PM PST by tomball
Alleges State Inspectors Altered Patient Records
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The owner of a bankrupt nursing home accused state regulators Wednesday of fabricating violations and altering records to close down the home in retaliation for her decision to end an affair with Gov. Paul Patton. The state is trying to revoke Birchtree Healthcare's license - which expires Dec. 31 - for "continued and substantial failure" to meet minimum requirements.
Tina Conner alleges state inspectors hounded the nursing home into bankruptcy after she ended a two-year affair with Patton. She alleges it was Patton's way of retaliating - a charge under state and federal investigation.
The debt-ridden nursing home, which has only 11 residents left, never recovered from losing Medicare and Medicaid funding during the summer.
During a federal bankruptcy hearing Wednesday, Conner and Birchtree administrator Dan Dabney alleged a member of the state's survey team altered a patient's medical record during an October inspection, causing the patient to take medication later than prescribed.
Dabney has filed a complaint with the attorney general's office. A spokeswoman there said the office has subpoenaed the records.
The state Cabinet for Health Services declined to comment, but inspector Linda Tinsley testified that regulators didn't change the chart.
Conner and Dabney deny the facility had serious violations and say they worked to improve care.
"I have never said there weren't legitimate problems," Conner said. "They were not of that magnitude."
Conner said she has given investigators a tape of a conversation in which a state official says she is working to close down Birchtree.
Patton acknowledged his affair with Conner but denied doing anything to aid or ruin her business. Cabinet officials deny their scrutiny of Birchtree was politically motivated.
AP-ES-11-27-02 2101EST
Patton and his Dem cronies stole the election in '95 but Mr. Forgy (the Repub) chose not to challenge, knowing it was a lost cause. The Republicans didn't run a serious candidate in '99 partly because Mr. Forgy wouldn't run again without better controls in place to prevent vote stealing at the local level. This accounts for the supposed '99 "mandate."
Right now it appears Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R) is planning a run for Governor next year. He has a good shot, especially with the thoroughly disgraced Paul Patton staying on despite his "affair" with Tina Connor and abuse of office in punishing her through attacking her nursing home via state regulators.
The times and politics are a'changin' in Kentucky. The Dems no longer walk on water.
10-4 on a winning plan. The KY Dems have finally done themselves in. Heavens, this might allow Kentucky to move into the 21st century ! Will wonders never cease!
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