HCFA Probe Uncovers Problems in Tennessee Homes for People with Mental Retardation

Meanwhile, Tennessee officials have agreed to submit to HCFA a plan to "correct" conditions found during federal inspections of homes and facilities for the mentally retarded. HCFA launched an investigation after receiving complaints last November from west Tennessee families about care provided for their mentally retarded relatives. State officials received preliminary findings on May 25. On Monday, Rose Crum-Johnson, HCFA's regional administrator from Atlanta, met with Joanna Damons, director of long term care for TennCare, to address the findings. Crum-Johnson spokesperson Joyce Lang said that HCFA will issue a final report this summer after Tennessee has submitted a plan to correct identified problems. TennCare spokesperson Lola Potter said, "Sure, there are some concerns. We know we need to make some changes." The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that HCFA received complaints about a lack of supervision, staff and food in the facilities, as well as a "negative attitude" toward family members. Potter attributed some of the problems to small facilities where employees receive only $6 to $8 an hour to "do some pretty incredible things for people who need a lot of attention," adding, "We need better training and better oversight of those people." To help address the problem, she said that the state may "involve" family members "directly in the oversight of the institutions," including the hiring of staff (Brosnan, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6/12).