Healthcare Watchdog, Our SALUD, Takes on State's Chief Public Health Officer
- Oversight failure by California Department of Public Health to Protect the Most Vulnerable Patients
- Lawsuit Seeks Agency Correct Prime Healthcare's Alleged Improper Billing Tactics and Failure to Provide Care
- Our SALUD, grassroots activists, is Forcing the Government to do its job
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Our SALUD is taking on the head of the California Department of Public Health for allegedly not doing his job to protect the health and well-being of all Californians, especially the most vulnerable. Community activists Elba Romo and Bell corruption scandal whistleblower Nestor Valencia are leading the grass roots organization that seeks equal access to health in disadvantaged areas.
Plaintiffs Our SALUD representing low-income minority communities filed a lawsuit today demanding Ron Chapman, Director of the California Department of Public Health, take immediate actions to enforce the state's patient protection regulations against Prime Healthcare, one of the state's largest healthcare systems, that operates more than 18 hospitals in California. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Our SALUD.
"It is almost beyond comprehension that the California Department of Public Health would selectively enforce its regulations on some hospitals and not others, a practice that is leaving many victims in its wake," said Nestor Valencia, Our SALUD. "The failure to protect the communities in which Prime Healthcare operates stems from an on-going policy of non-enforcement of the laws to which Chapman has been entrusted."
In their suit, the plaintiffs allege Ron Chapman, MD, Director, California Department of Public Health, has failed to protect the communities in which Prime Healthcare operates and continues to allow Prime Healthcare to operate without enforcement of the laws. It is widely reported that Prime Healthcare allegedly devises schemes intended to deny or unreasonably delay access to care to the uninsured. It allegedly discourages or prevents uninsured patients from utilizing Prime Hospitals' emergency room services. It has also been reported that Prime Hospitals routinely "up-code" insured patients, a form of billing fraud by exaggerating a patient's medical condition to garner higher reimbursement rates. Prime Healthcare practices are currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
"All of these facts are well-known, have been reported in the press and in government hearings, but the Department of Public Health fails to correct the actions or stop them all together," said Elba Romo, Our SALUD. "What is keeping the Department of Public Health from enforcing the law?" said Elba Romo. "If the Administration could answer that question perhaps our communities would be safer."
Our SALUD has a history of fighting to correct abuses, protect patients and fight for safer, healthier communities. The group has helped mobilize grassroots and local government support for initiatives to combat HMO abuses and environmental contamination at the local and statewide level.
Chapman is the State's Chief Public Health Officer with a $3 billion budget and the authority to suspend or revoke a hospital license in the public interest or where necessary to protect patients. "Chapman's silence has been deafening on this critical issue," Romo said. "A policy of non-action is unacceptable."
"The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, and a writ of mandate to order Dr. Ron Chapman, Director of the Department of Public Health, to perform his entrusted duties, follow the law and protect the public," said Michael McClelland, McClelland Advocacy, the law firm representing Our SALUD. "The suit does not seek monetary damages."
About Our SALUD
Our SALUD (Somos Aliados Latinos Unidos por la Dignidad – Latino Allies United for Dignity) is a grassroots health care watchdog coalition representing civic, community and business leaders from the Southern California Latino communities. We believe that our low-income, minority communities deserve quality health care access equal to other communities. We believe our communities are not unlike other communities in California which are yearning for best practices and quality health care.
About McClelland Advocacy
Michael McClelland is the founder and principal of McClelland Advocacy, Ltd. A recognized expert in healthcare law, Mr. McClelland is the former Chief prosecutor of the California Department of Managed Health Care, the nation's only stand alone HMO regulator. He regularly represents clients ranging from physicians to health plans, including some of the country's largest health plans, physician groups, and direct primary care practices.
SOURCE Our SALUD
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