NEWARK
- A Middlesex County health care service firm
has agreed to pay $27,500 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.
VC
Services, L.L.C., which does business as Affinity
Care of New Jersey, agreed to comply with
the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the
Employment and Personnel Services Act and
regulations in its future operations. The
company, which is located in Perth Amboy,
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.
This
is the second settlement this year involving
a health care service firm. The Division in
July settled with Preferred Health Mate, Inc.,
of Brick Township.
“VC
Services will revise its business practices
to comply with our regulations to ensure clients
receive proper care, said David Szuchman,
Consumer Affairs Director. “We will
not allow the public to be placed at needless
risk.”
VC Services agreed to cease and desist from
the following practices:
-
Matching unqualified aides with clients
that require certified aides;
-
Allowing uncertified aides to perform services
that require a certified aide;
- Creating
an employment application that does not
comply with state regulations;
- Failing
to verify license status of each individual
prior to referral or placement;
- Failing
to maintain a copy of each individual’s
license or registration;
- Failing
to create a job order for every position
for which a referral or placement is to
be made;
- Failing
to certify an applicant’s work history;
and
- Failing
to conduct the 30 and 60 day client health
care review.
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.
A
list of all health care service firms registered
in New Jersey can be viewed at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/agency.pdf
. For further information, contact the Division’s
Regulated Business Section at 973-504-6370.
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