California has reached a $15.5 million settlement with Mariner Health Care Inc., which operates skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles County and elsewhere, over alleged mistreatment of patients and understaffing of its convalescent homes, officials announced Tuesday.
The settlement includes injunctive relief with independent monitoring, payment of $2.25 million in costs and up to $15.5 million in civil penalties for any violations of the injunction, Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
“Skilled nursing facilities should always provide their residents with the highest standard of care,” Bonta said in a statement. “Instead, Mariner jeopardized residents’ health and well-being, and misled prospective residents and their families about the quality of its California facilities.
“Today’s settlement will hold Mariner accountable and ensure that residents at their facilities are given the proper care they need in a safe environment with proper staffing requirements. My office remains committed to protecting the elderly and disabled and will never tolerate the mistreatment and abuse of our state’s most vulnerable residents.”
A message requesting comment sent to a Mariner Health attorney was not immediately answered.
The settlement — filed Monday in state court in Alameda County — resolves allegations brought by the AG and the district attorneys of Los Angeles County and elsewhere in 2021, alleging that Mariner violated California’s Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law by understaffing its 19 facilities and subjecting patients to negligent care while inflating their skilled nursing facilities advertised ratings to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, court papers show.
Understaffing left residents vulnerable and the inadequate care resulted in unnecessary amputations, the spread of diseases such as lice and pests among residents, and a high number of unreported sexual assault cases, among other issues, according to the 2021 complaint.
Mariner Health operates facilities in Glendale, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Palm Springs and elsewhere, according to the company’s website.
As part of the settlement, Mariner will be required to reform and improve its practices and the services for residents in their California skilled nursing facilities, implement an independent monitor for no less than three years, and pay $2.25 million in costs and up to $15.5 million in civil penalties.
“I am pleased with the $15.5 million settlement to hold Mariner Health Care Inc., accountable for its horrific practices and mistreatment of patients in their various skilled nursing facilities locations in California, including facilities in Los Angeles County,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said. “Let this be a reminder to the health care industry that we expect the highest level of care for all, especially our most vulnerable community members who rely on you to help and protect them.”
Last year, the Alameda County Superior Court granted a motion for a preliminary injunction requiring Mariner Health to comply with laws and regulations regarding the staffing of five of its facilities and with the discharges from 19 of its facilities in order to safeguard the safety and well-being of their residents.