Medicaid and Medicare funding terminated at Jefferson County nursing home, forcing residents to leave

FESTUS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Festus Manor s were tightlipped Tuesday when First Alert 4 visited after learning the facility would no longer be getting money from Medicare and Medicaid.

A notice was issued to the public saying effective November 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will terminate the agreement with Festus Manor.

First Alert 4 saw a moving truck, people carrying things out of the building and shuttles in the parking lot. This was before our crew was kicked off the property.

READ: Employees without pay, residents displaced after largest St. Louis nursing home abruptly shuts down

Majorie Moore, Executive Director of VOYCE says, “Almost all of the residents there use Medicare or Medicaid, mostly Medicaid, to pay for their stay in the facility. Um, so that means 150 people are now having to find new homes immediately.”

VOYCE is an agency that advocates for residents of long-term care facilities.

“I think one of the things we always have to about nursing homes is first and foremost theY’RE homes,” says Moore.

The agency’s ombudsman, an official who investigates complaints, was at Festus Manor Tuesday morning helping residents figure out their next move.

Moore tells me they have 60 days to find a new place to stay.

The director goes on to say, “That’s one of the big challenges when a whole bunch of people have to move all at once. People are moving far away- most people want to stay near their loved ones.”

As the facility folds, First Alert 4 obtained A CMS notice saying, “These actions are taken because CMS has determined that Festus Manor failed to attain substantial compliance with certain Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements.”

Medicare.gov lists Festus Manor with a one-star rating. It is also listed with a consumer alert because the nursing home has been cited for abuse.

According to Medicare, the average number of health citations for nursing homes in the United States is 9.6. Missouri’s average is 12.1. Festus Manor has received 25.

The latest health inspection was completed in May 2024.

We learned the owners' name ed with the state -- is Festus MO OPCO LLC.

As for its current status, the wouldn’t confirm if the facility was closing for good before we left.

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