Orpea has not finished settling its accounts. The private group of retirement homes, accused of mistreating residents and embezzling public funds, has been ordered to reimburse 55.8 million euros to the State, AFP learned on Friday August 12, from a spokesperson for National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA), theorganization that manages funds dedicated to addiction, confirming information from the newspaper The world. The CNSA gave Orpea formal notice on July 29, said this source.
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Orpea assured in a press release published last week that it would reimburse “sums whose allocation was inadequate”. However, the group mentions “differences of appreciation” on the sums concerned and ensures that it intends to provide “answers” at the CNSA in the “deadline” one month to defend its position.
Orpea says it is ready to reimburse 5.7 million euros
According The world, the group says it is ready to repay 5.7 million euros. This amount corresponds to discounts granted by suppliers for the purchase of products intended for the elderly, financed by public grants. On the other hand, Orpea refuses to reimburse 30.1 million euros, claimed in respect of wages, according to the evening daily. As a reminder, the group used these public funds to pay carers, while the company should have financed their salaries with its own funds.
“The debate mainly concerns carers acting as caregivers, a practice used by the entire sector to compensate for structural staff shortages”, Orpea said in a statement to AFP. The salaries of caregivers are partly covered by public grants. The group also refuses to reimburse 19.6 million euros, which corresponds to the amount of two taxes, paid with public funds, adds The world.
“The situation is unprecedented, the CNSA will do everything to recover the amounts due by relying on its current legal capacities”commented to AFP the spokesperson for the organization.