The Ivy Nursing Home Faces Legal Battle Amid License Suspension
- The Ivy at Great Falls, Montana's largest nursing home, is suing the state's health department due to ongoing quality concerns.
- This legal action follows the announcement of the facility's potential closure stemming from a long record of quality issues.
- The outcome of this lawsuit may have significant implications for healthcare services in the region.
The Ivy nursing home has announced the suspension of its license, informing residents on June 27 that they would be relocated by August. This decision comes as the facility filed a lawsuit on July 19, following the commencement of resident removals. The lawsuit claims that the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is constrained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, which oversee Medicare and Medicaid programs. The lawsuit highlights concerns regarding "transfer trauma," a term used to describe the potential negative effects on residents due to sudden changes in their living conditions and caregivers. Statements from healthcare providers and family members included in the lawsuit express alarm over the impact of the nursing home’s closure on its residents. As of July 4, nearly two dozen residents reportedly faced rejection from other facilities across the state. A spokesperson for DPHHS did not respond to inquiries regarding the situation. The CMS issued a notice of termination after DPHHS conducted inspections in March, May, and June, revealing that The Ivy was "not in substantial compliance" with Medicare requirements. The facility has been listed as noncompliant for nearly two years, and while the lawsuit acknowledges its quality issues, it attributes them to the facility's size and the complexity of its resident population. Montana Free Press’ Mara Silvers contributed to this report, shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by The Ivy and its residents.