Hefty Fines for Failure to Report, Elder Justice Act

"Mandatory Reporting of Crimes Occurring in Long-Term Care Facilities The PPACA law established reporting requirements regarding suspected crimes against residents of long-term care facilities that receive $10,000 or more in federal funds. Every individual employed by or associated with a long-term care facility as an owner, operator, employee, manager, agency, or contractor is required to report any reasonable suspicion of a crime against facility residents to the Secretary of HHS and to law enforcement officials. Tight deadlines are specified for reporting of any suspected crime. If the event that caused the suspicion results in serious bodily injury, the individual is required to report the suspicion immediately, but not later than 2 hours after forming the suspicion. If the event does not result in bodily injury, the individual is required to report no later than 24 hours after forming the suspicion. The law imposes stiff penalties for failure to report: up to $200,000 in civil money penalties or, when lack of reporting results in exacerbation of harm to the victim, up to $300,000. In both cases, the Secretary has the option to exclude the non-reporting individual from participating in federal health care programs." https://www.nhpf.org/library/the-basics/Basics_ElderJustice_11-30-10.pdf