NEWARK
– An Ocean County health care service
firm has agreed to pay $17,700 in civil penalties
and investigative reimbursements to the state,
under terms of a Consent Order that ends an
investigation into the firm’s business
practices.
Preferred Health Mate, Inc.,
located in Brick Township, also agreed to
resolve all consumer complaints referred to
it by the Division of Consumer Affairs for
the next 18 months through binding arbitration
if the parties cannot reach a settlement on
their own. The company also agreed to comply
with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and
the Employment and Personnel Services Act
and regulations in its future operations.
The settlement was reached
without an admission of violation by the company.
“The public depends
on the health aides provided by this company
and this settlement requires Preferred Health
Mate to ensure the aides are properly licensed
or certified,” said David Szuchman,
Consumer Affairs Director. “Health aides
provide critical services, and with an aging
population, more consumers will be turning
to them in the future.”
Preferred Health Mate agreed
not to allow uncertified aides to perform
services that legally require a certified
aide. The company also will create an employment
application form that complies with regulations.
Preferred Health Mate agreed
to enact the following business practices:
- Placing only health care
practitioners who are currently licensed
or certified;
- Creating and maintaining
a Plan of Care in clients’ files;
- Creating an application
for each applicant seeking placement that
includes all required information;
- Verifying license status
of each individual prior to referral or
placement;
- Maintaining a copy of the
license or registration with the required
notation conspicuously written across the
entire face of the license;
- Creating a job order for
every position, or type of position, within
a single institution, for which a referral
or placement is to be made; and
- Maintaining a copy of a
bond of $10,000 or a certified financial
report establishing a net worth of $100,000
or greater.
Deputy Attorney General John
D. Hugelmeyer represented the state in this
matter.
The Division of Consumer Affairs,
through its Regulated Business Section, registers
and oversees health care service firms. These
firms employ and assign individuals to provide
health care or personal care services either
in the home or at a care-giving facility.
Personal care services include bathing, toileting,
transferring, dressing, grooming, and assistance
with ambulation, exercise, or other aspects
of personal hygiene.
#
# # |
