NY Clinic Linked To Joan Rivers’ Death Losing Accreditation

“Yorkville Endoscopy no longer meets the conditions for a supplier of ambulatory surgical center services,” the Centers for Medicare Services said in a statement. As of Jan. 31, the Manhattan medical facility will no longer be eligible to receive federal funds for services provided to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Rivers, an acid-tongued comedian who crashed the male-dominated realm of late-night talk shows and starred with her daughter on E! in “Fashion Police,” died Sept. 4 at age 81. The city’s medical examiner found she died of brain damage due to lack of oxygen when she stopped breathing during an endoscopy days earlier.

A message left at Yorkville Endoscopy seeking comment on Monday was not immediately returned. WABC reported that the clinic said in a statement it was continuing to work with all regulatory bodies.

“We intend to communicate with CMS and appropriate authorities to have the decision reversed. Yorkville continues to be a licensed facility and perform procedures while cooperating with the regulatory process,” according to the statement.

The clinic had presented a plan to correct problems uncovered during an investigation after her death. However, the CMS said Monday that Yorkville remained deficient in four areas, including “surgical services; quality assessment and performance improvement; governing body and management; and environment.”

Rivers’ death was classified as a therapeutic complication, and no negligence was alleged in the federal report.

Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, has hired a prominent malpractice attorney to investigate.