Hospital's files under review by state

Solutions sought to resume U.S. funding for new Broughton patients

Friday, Sept. 7, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

A state team of experts is inspecting Broughton Hospital this week, looking for solutions to the problems that led federal officials to halt new Medicaid and Medicare funding last week.

The team has spent the week reviewing medical records, progress notes, incident reports, hospital policies and procedures and how staff members interact with patients, said Jim Osberg, chief of state-operated services with the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

Broughton, one of four state mental health facilities, is in Morganton, about 75 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Federal officials announced last week that Broughton would not receive money for Medicaid or Medicare patients admitted to the facility after Aug. 25 because of concerns over the February death of a patient, 27-year-old Anthony Lowery, and an injury to another patient in August.

An autopsy said that Lowery, who had a history of schizophrenia, died of asphyxia after a staff member sat on his torso. Lowery tried to bite the man during that time, the report said.

When the state finishes its review, it will give Medicaid and Medicare Services its plan for fixing problems at Broughton, Osberg said.

The federal government will review the plan and make at least one unannounced visit to the hospital to check its progress before deciding whether it should reinstate payments, said Mark Van Sciver, spokesman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Broughton receives about $1 million a month in Medicaid and Medicare funding.

The state Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, will adjust its more than $7.1 million budget to cover the funding gap, Van Sciver said.


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