Excluded from OIG

[Cdeisel106]

August in 2015 my facility found out that some of my patients was not getting her lovenox injections. I was approached by my director asking me about it and I wasn't aware I missed any doses. After a 45 min interrogation I wrote a statement stating what I thought may have happened but when I gave it to my director and the Cheif nursing executive they basically told me that if I took responsibility for the medication errors (9 of the doses were missed) that NYS would be easier on me because of my honesty. Being young and naive I took responsibility for the med errors and signed the statement. I know I should never have done that but I have never had anything like that happen to me before so I thought my director knew best. Although the facility did an internal investigation, it was very sporifice and other nurses came ahead saying that they didn't give the medication because it wasn't on the MAR when they looked. Fast forward to November of 2015 I get a notice from the ATTORNEY GENERAL telling me they are arresting me for 9 counts of falsifying business records in the 1st degree. I took a plea deal,which decreased it to 1 count of falsifying business records in the 2nd degree. I found a great job, told them everything about the error and my plea deal and on March 1st, 2016 I get a notice from the office of Medicaid inspector general in NY saying I am excluded from working for facilities that take Medicaid. We tried to appeal it but it was denied but we were told in 1 year we can apply again. I was interviewed by the state for my license next on 4/26/16 and they decided to suspend my license for 2 months and have a 22 month stayed suspension and as well as a probation and fine. It's January of 2017 now and the state hasn't started the suspension yet. BUT I just got a notice from office of inspector general office of Human Services telling me that I am now excluded from working with any state insurance (Medicaid or Medicare) for 5 years. My lawyer has never seen such punishment over something like this. I have been unable to work due to the NY Medicaid exclusion for almost a year and I am at a loss of what to do!! Someone please give me some insight on what to expect next or if there is anything that I can do!!! Thank you all in advance ������������

[Mr.Bill RN, BSN]

August in 2015 my facility found out that some of my patients was not getting her lovenox injections. I was approached by my director asking me about it and I wasn't aware I missed any doses. After a 45 min interrogation I wrote a statement stating what I thought may have happened but when I gave it to my director and the Cheif nursing executive they basically told me that if I took responsibility for the medication errors (9 of the doses were missed) that NYS would be easier on me because of my honesty. Being young and naive I took responsibility for the med errors and signed the statement. I know I should never have done that but I have never had anything like that happen to me before so I thought my director knew best. Although the facility did an internal investigation, it was very sporifice and other nurses came ahead saying that they didn't give the medication because it wasn't on the MAR when they looked. Fast forward to November of 2015 I get a notice from the ATTORNEY GENERAL telling me they are arresting me for 9 counts of falsifying business records in the 1st degree. I took a plea deal,which decreased it to 1 count of falsifying business records in the 2nd degree. I found a great job, told them everything about the error and my plea deal and on March 1st, 2016 I get a notice from the office of Medicaid inspector general in NY saying I am excluded from working for facilities that take Medicaid. We tried to appeal it but it was denied but we were told in 1 year we can apply again. I was interviewed by the state for my license next on 4/26/16 and they decided to suspend my license for 2 months and have a 22 month stayed suspension and as well as a probation and fine. It's January of 2017 now and the state hasn't started the suspension yet. BUT I just got a notice from office of inspector general office of Human Services telling me that I am now excluded from working with any state insurance (Medicaid or Medicare) for 5 years. My lawyer has never seen such punishment over something like this. I have been unable to work due to the NY Medicaid exclusion for almost a year and I am at a loss of what to do!! Someone please give me some insight on what to expect next or if there is anything that I can do!!! Thank you all in advance

Wow, your story is something to take in. Why would you put a statement in writing if you weren't the one doing it? Never admit your guilt, no matter if guilty or not, where you stand though, for a facility to report you to the board for Lovenox injections is a pretty rare scenario, but they do have a valid argument. Falsifying medical records is pretty serious. Mostly you see cases being reported for scheduled drugs. I would get a good lawyer, and have a good opposing argument. If the facility you worked at ran floors understaffed, maybe see if you can counter the charge by blaming the facility for unfair practice environment. Good luck.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Duplicate threads merged and moved to a forum where those with similar issues can reply.