Kirkland Nursing Home Faces Fines Over Coronavirus Outbreak

KIRKLAND, WA — Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home linked to at least 37 coronavirus deaths in King County, is facing at least $611,000 in fines and could lose access to federal funding, the Washington Post reported.

Related: 2,496 Confirmed Coronavirus Cases In King County, 164 Dead

According to the Post, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that the nursing home failed to report an outbreak of respiratory illnesses for two weeks, did not provide sufficient care and did not prove 24-hour emergency doctor services.

Federal investigators announced the preliminary findings of their investigation in late March, and said the problems placed residents in "immediate jeopardy." An investigative report by the Seattle Times found some staff members began to notice signs of a respiratory outbreak by early February.

The Post reports federal investigators assessed a civil penalty of $13,585 per day, beginning Feb. 12, when the outbreak is believed to have started. The penalty could increase or decrease, depending on how well the facility corrects the issues identified by Sept. 2020.

Read the full story at The Washington Post.