August 2, 2005
The Virginia Department of Health has determined that the Laurels of Charlottesville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is not in compliance with state standards.
The Center has lost its ability to accept reimbursement for new Medicaid and Medicare patients.
If the facility's reimbursement benefits are terminated, some feel it will only make it more difficult for members of the community to visit their loved ones, something the Jefferson Area Board of Aging CEO feels is pivotal to patients' well being.
"[If] people have to travel greater distances or take off more time from work to go visit a parent or a husband or wife, it's going to be very difficult for them," says JABA CEO Gordon Walker. "We know often times that maybe the highlight of their day is a family visit, so obviously as a community, we need to do what we can to correct the deficiencies that they have."
If the Center is denied reimbursement benefits for all its patients, both new and old, the facility plans to seek re-enrollment in the program as soon as possible.
Anyone interested in getting involved with efforts to help the Center can call JABA at 434-817-5222.
