The operators of a Cumberland County nursing home which has been consistently named one of the worst in the state lined their pockets with millions of dollars while letting residents suffer in filth with poor medical care, according to a report released Thursday by the New Jersey state comptroller’s office.
The operators of South Jersey Extended Care in Bridgeton “exploited the poor, sick, elderly, people with disabilities, people with addictions, and residents with no family to look after them,” said Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh. “They profited on the suffering of people who wanted better care but had no way to get it.”
The report alleges the improper funneling of millions of dollars and the manner in which residents were treated went unnoticed for years by state agencies that are supposed to oversee them. According to investigators, Michael Konig — who was barred from operating nursing homes in other states for serious violations — was running the home along with his brother-in-law while its supposed owner, Mark Weisz was a straw owner.
“In our report, we lay bare in great detail on how we spend so much money on nursing homes in New Jersey and yet some of them continue to provide such poor quality care year after year after year,” said Walsh.
The home’s operators allegedly inflated costs to boost their profits while under-delivering critical care for patients. South Jersey Extended Care and another home in Maple Shade run by the same operators have both been barred from New Jersey’s Medicaid programs, which could potentially shut them down.
“As a state, we have to do a better job of vetting owners, cutting through intentionally opaque ownership structures, and really understanding who is really making the decision for the nursing home,” said Walsh. “And whether they are making decisions in the best interest of residents or on behalf of themselves to inflate their own profit margins.”
