A deceased resident of a Florida nursing home that ceased operations following Hurricane Irma was billed on her 100th birthday, according to a Sun-Sentinel report.
The woman, Albertina Vega, was a resident of Hollywood, Fla.-based Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, where residents died due to air conditioning and power outages following the storm. There were a total of 14 deceased residents of the nursing home.
Ms. Vega's $958 automatic payment to Hollywood Hills was discovered by a family member who attempted to close Ms. Vega's bank account, according to the report. The payment was posted on Ms. Vega's 100th birthday, Oct. 10. Ms. Vega died in the nursing home Sept. 13, the day patients were evacuated from the facility. Eight patients, including Ms. Vega, died that day. Other residents died after that day.
A nursing home spokesperson told the Sun-Sentinel Ms. Vega's account was reimbursed Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, in this family's case, this was an automatic deduction," said the spokesperson. "Due to circumstances beyond the facility's control and their lack of access to what they need— the computers in the system — the withdrawal automatically occurred."
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration disclose to the Sun-Sentinel whether the nursing home billed other deceased victims or residents who made it through the storm.