Regional Elder Justice Task Forces Launched and U.S. Attorney’s Office Selected to Participate

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Today the Department of Justice announced the launch of ten regional Elder Justice Task Forces.  These regional teams will bring together federal, state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other agencies with the primary purpose to coordinate and enhance efforts against nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents. 

United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau stated, “We are excited to participate at the onset of this important initiative.  Elder abuse issues will affect most Iowans at some point in their lives and the forming of this task force will further our ongoing efforts to protect some of our district’s most vulnerable citizens.” 

“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “Yet, all too often we have found nursing home owners or operators who put their own economic gain before the needs of their residents. These task forces will help ensure that we are working closely with all relevant parties to protect the elderly.”

The Elder Justice Task Forces will include representatives from the United States Attorneys’ Offices, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, state and local prosecutors’ offices, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services, state Adult Protective Service agencies, Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, and law enforcement.   

“The Department of Justice has a long history of holding nursing homes and long-term care providers accountable when they fail to provide their Medicare and Medicaid residents with even the most basic nursing services to which they were entitled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “By bringing everyone to the table, we will be able to more effectively and quickly pursue nursing homes that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of their residents.”

Steve Hanson, Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Regional Office of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, stated, “Our office looks forward to working with our law enforcement partners as well as state and local officials to ensure that elderly Iowans receive the appropriate level of care and services they so deserve.”

The ten Elder Justice Task Forces will be launched in the following Districts: Northern District of California, Northern District of Georgia, District of Kansas, Western District of Kentucky, Northern District of Iowa, District of Maryland, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Western District of Washington.

The Elder Justice Task Forces are part of the Department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors through the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative.  The Elder Justice Initiative coordinates and supports the Department’s law enforcement and policy activities on elder justice issues and plays an integral role in the Departments’ investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.  The Elder Justice Initiative will be providing litigation support and training to the Elder Justice Task Forces.  Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.

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