Reporting Abuse

Reporting Abuse, Neglect and Fraud Against Healthcare Providers

Virginia

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the first major revision of the federal standards for nursing home care since the 1965 creation of both Medicare and Medicaid. This landmark legislation, known at Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 1987) changed society’s legal expectations of nursing homes care.

Maryland

In Maryland, abuse is defined by Section 14-101 of the Family Law article, Annotated Code of Maryland, which defines abuse as “sustaining of any physical injury by a vulnerable adult as a result of cruel or inhumane treatment or as a result of malicious act by any person.”

Washington, DC

District of Columbia – § 22–932 Code of the District of Columbia defines “elderly” as a person who is 65 years of age. Vulnerable adult is defined as a person who is 18 years of age or older and has one or more physical or mental limitations that substantially impair the person’s ability to independently provide for his or her daily needs or safeguard his or her person, property, or legal interests.

United States Federal Government

The U.S. Health and Human Services Administration on Aging provides home and community-based services and opportunities to older persons and their caregivers through programs funded under the Older Americans Act.