Lake View Manor passed a state inspection Monday, but because of its history of problems, the Lawrence nursing home has been put on a special watch list by state officials.

“We’ve identified three homes in the state that appear to warrant additional attention,” said Barb Conant, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department on Aging. “Lake View Manor in Lawrence is one of the three.”

The designation means Lake View, 3015 W. 31st St., will be subject to inspections and follow-up inspections twice a year instead of once.

“We’ll be monitoring them more closely,” Conant said.

The designation also gives state officials the authority to fine the facility. Ordinarily, they’re restricted to asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to impose fines and waiting to see what happens.

Lake View has been cited several times for poor care. In the past 10 months, it has twice come close to losing its Medicaid license after failing annual inspections and follow-up inspections.

Lake View passed a second follow-up inspection Monday after failing an annual review on Nov. 19 and a follow-up visit on Jan. 14.

If it had not passed muster Monday, Lake View likely would have lost its Medicaid license and been forced out of business.

Generally, Medicaid accounts for slightly more than half of a nursing home’s income. Without it, few can remain open.

Ex-administrator urges nursing home takeover (12-16-04) Lake View Manor fails inspection again (12-15-04) State cites care home for new violations (8-17-04) Owners of troubled nursing home fire administrator (6-15-04) Nursing home passes muster (04-24-04) Troubled nursing home awaits its fate (04-04-04) Nursing home faces withheld subsidies (3-17-04) Lake View could lose federal funding (2-24-04) Lake View vendor seeks intervention from state officials (1-28-04)

Contacted Tuesday afternoon, Lake View co-owner Charles K. Pomeroy said he was unaware of the facility’s being singled out for additional scrutiny.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” Pomeroy told the Journal-World.

Pomeroy said Lake View remained committed to providing high-quality care for its residents.

Pomeroy and his parents, Charles P. and Lurene Pomeroy, of Topeka, own Lake View.

Records show the nursing home has had five administrators in the past year. Since Dec. 25, Lake View has not been allowed to accept new residents whose care is subsidized by Medicaid. That ban on Medicaid admissions is expected to be lifted since the facility passed inspection Monday.

Deanne Bacco, executive director at Kansas Advocates for Better Care, balked at praising the Department on Aging’s attempt at cracking down on Lake View.

“This has gone on for so long — it’s been so frustrating and so discouraging,” Bacco said. “The idea that a facility can be hit with as many deficiencies as Lake View has over the years and still be found in minimal compliance causes one to lose faith in the system.”

Conant insisted the Department on Aging was not coddling troubled nursing homes.

“Our goal is to use incentives and to help the facilities regain and remain in compliance,” she said. “The care, safety and security of residents is, of course, our first priority.”

Conant declined to identify the other two Kansas nursing homes singled out for additional oversight. “They’ve not been notified yet,” she said.