I-Team: Athena Health Care Systems accused of not paying back millions to vendors and families

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - The I-Team has learned a nursing home operator in Connecticut is accused of not paying back vendors, workers and even patient’s families. A Waterford man says he spent months fighting to get his money back, and nothing happened until the I-Team got involved.

Athena Health Care Systems currently owns 8 nursing homes across Connecticut, including Bayview Health Care Center in Waterford. It’s where Nancy Swansen spent her final days.

“They were great. I had no complaints about the service there,” said Robert Swansen, Nancy’s son.

On July 5th, 2024, Nancy died. Because she had already paid for the entire month of July, emails from Athena show her estate was due a refund of $16,555. As of early March, the Swansen family was still waiting to receive that money.

“My family can’t move on as far as you know clearing up her affairs until we receive this money,” said Swansen. “If you look online, they owe money to everybody.”

The I-Team searched online court records and found 12 lawsuits filed in Connecticut in the last 3 years seeking payments from Athena Health Care Systems. The lawsuits include a supply company which alleges Athena owed more than $380,000 for the purchase and delivery of industrial products. There were also two filings by the city of Bristol alleging Athena owed more than $40,000 in taxes. In 7 of the lawsuits, a judge has already ordered Athena to pay the money back. Those 7 lawsuits add up to $4,929,926.99.

The I-Team reached out to Athena Health Care Systems for comment. A spokesperson said Athena Health Care Systems cannot comment on any pending litigation. When we followed up for additional comment about the 7 lawsuits no longer pending, the spokesperson said, ‘we do not have a comment to provide.’

“It just seems like everywhere they are, they have lawsuits,” said Swansen.

Athena Health Care Systems has also been in the news for other reasons over the last few years.

The I-Team has covered their attempts to close two nursing homes in Bristol---citing “a combination of environmental factors: staffing challenges, facility maintenance needs, and rising operational costs”. The closures would cause hundreds of people to lose their jobs, and several hundred people would need to be re-located. The Department of Social Services has to officially approve the plan before the facilities can close.

An Athena facility in Waterbury, Abbott Terrace Health Center, was shut down last year after it lost federal funding due to its failure to meet health and safety requirements.

It all had Swansen feeling like his family’s $16,555 was going to get lost in the mix.

“My fear is they have so many lawsuits going on right now that they really just don’t care,” said Swansen. “I’ve kind of looked at everything I possibly could to get them to reimburse this money to my family, and I just keep hitting roadblock after roadblock.”

After the interview, the I-Team emailed Athena about Swansen’s refund. Less than a week after our email, Swansen got a call that his check was ready for pickup.

“I feel we’ve been very patient, eight months it’s been,” said Swansen.

His family now can move on, but that isn’t the end of Athena’s debts.