FACT CHECK: Lexington Herald-Leader Confirms Alvarado’s Nursing Home Malpractice, Corruption in State Senate

Lexington, KY – This week, Navy veteran and candidate for Kentucky’s 6th congressional district Zach Dembo released an ad exposing Ralph Alvarado’s corruption – highlighting how he worked as the Medical Director of Kentucky nursing homes that were sued for medical malpractice and wrongful death, then worked to pass a law as a state senator that made it harder to hold them accountable. The ad highlights the conditions in the nursing homes where Alvarado worked, which included a scabies outbreak, testimony from a family member that their loved one was “drugged up like a zombie” and patients left unbathed. 

A Lexington Herald-Leader fact check confirms: “Yes, the ad is accurate.”

The Herald-Leader writes in part:

“Yes, the ad is accurate. Alvarado did serve in the Kentucky Senate while simultaneously working as medical director for Central Kentucky nursing homes that had serious quality of care issues, as reported by state inspectors.

As a senator, he sponsored bills and took positions that helped the nursing home industry, including the facilities that employed him, although Alvarado said he was helping the health care industry as a whole.

Alvarado was one of the gift recipients identified in the Medicare fraud case settled by the federal government and Nurses Registry, although he and the other doctors were not named as defendants in the suit.”

The Facts: During Alvarado’s time in the Kentucky state Senate, he passed legislation that made it harder for families to hold nursing homes accountable for malpractice. Also while in the state legislature, Alvarado was implicated in a Medicare fraud scheme. The Lexington Herald-Leader has reported on Alvarado’s corruption for nearly a decade, and has verified that the claims made in the ad are true.

WATCH THE AD – “INVESTIGATIONS” – HERE 

TRANSCRIPT:

Narrator: When Ralph Alvarado was in the state senate, he was also the medical director for Kentucky nursing homes.

Investigations show those homes had a scabies outbreak, loved ones drugged up like a zombie, and patients left unbathed. 

Then in the Senate, Ralph Alvarado passed a law making it harder to hold those same nursing homes accountable. 

He was even implicated in a Medicare fraud scheme. 

That’s Alvarado’s record, and we deserved better. 

Zach: I’m Zach Dembo and I approve this message.

Additionally, Zach Dembo released another ad highlighting Alvarado’s close relationship with his former running mate, disgraced ex-Governor Matt Bevin. During their campaign, Alvarado backed Bevin’s attacks on seniors, Medicaid, teachers, and Kentucky’s working families. Multiple reporters have confirmed that Ralph Alvarado didn’t say a word when Matt Bevin pardoned hundreds of criminals, including a child rapist.

WATCH – “BASICALLY THE SAME” – HERE 

“The Bevin-Alvarado ticket was rejected before in 2019, and Central Kentucky will reject their corruption again this November,” said Olivia Dupree, Zach Dembo’s campaign manager. “Zach has prosecuted corruption his entire career and is ready to continue the job in Washington, rooting it out in both parties. On the other hand, Ralph Alvarado has never turned down an opportunity to enrich himself and look out for his own businesses or dark money donors. He’ll be another rubber stamp for the corruption in Washington that has let gas, diesel, and grocery costs skyrocket.”