BRISTOL, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Veterans Home must pay back millions of dollars to dozens of residents who federal investigators say were improperly billed for care.
Veterans Home spokesperson Meghan Connelly said the state owes $5 million after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that the home had improperly billed some residents for years, WPRI-TV reported. Connelly said 56 current and former residents were impacted and 30 of them have since died.
The state will refund the next-of-kin or estates of the veterans who have died, Connelly said.
The investigation was launched this year following an anonymous complaint. Investigators found that some veterans were inappropriately charged certain fees.
R.I. Office of Veterans Services director Kasim Yarn said that the home stopped collecting the fees as soon as it learned of the error.
“Our number one priority is the health, comfort and safety of the men and women who have chosen to make the Rhode Island Veterans Home their place of residence. We are entrusted with not only their care, but also their trust, and we are working diligently to correct this error and return all funds due to the residents,” Yarn said in a statement.
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