Gordon Oaks loses Medicare, Medicaid license

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - In the next few days, some residents at a Mobile nursing home will have to move out.

The Alabama Department of Health said the Gordon Oaks Health Center lost its Medicaid license, and some residents are being forced to move elsewhere.

This will impact residents who have Medicaid or Medicare.

The Department of Health cites a number of problems in the ways residents are cared for. Now federal officials have revoked the home's Medicaid license. The facility could lose its nursing home license as well.

See state documents on Gordon Oaks here .

See Gordon Oaks' statement here .

The State Department of Health made a number of surprise visits to the nursing home throughout 2011.

Over the course of these visits, they found many problems, and the Department of Health says the Gordon Oaks administration failed to address these issues.

Some of the problems cited in the report included care of the residents.

“We found that there were residents who were restrained without appropriate diagnosis and care plans for the restraints. We found that some had had falls and the facility had not adequately adjusted their care plan to accommodate the needs of the residents to keep them safe," Dr. Walter Geary from the Alabama Department of Health said.

FOX10 News spoke with a woman who has a relative staying at the facility.

"I think they're lying. That is not true. [My relative] always got her medicine. It was never an issue. Anytime there was something that went on medically, they called me," she said.

It’s important to note that despite these allegations, the department said the Gordon Oaks residents are not at risk or in danger.

The Department of Health said with the revocation of this license, Medicaid and Medicare will no longer make payments to Gordon Oaks, so that's why some residents are being moved out.

The Department of Health says all Medicare and Medicaid patients must be out by February 20.

The state said officials will help those residents relocate.

Dr. Geary said a hearing will be held in Montgomery on March 12 to remove Gordon Oaks’ nursing home license.

Gordon Oaks is still running and residents with private insurance are still eligible to stay there at this time.