California Taking Steps To Decertify Three Developmental Centers
On Friday, the California Department of Public Health announced that it has taken steps to decertify three centers for individuals with developmental disabilities after some patients were found in "situations involving immediate jeopardy," AP/Modern Healthcare reports.
Background on Centers
The three developmental centers are located in:
- Fairview;
- Lanterman; and
- Porterville (AP/Modern Healthcare, 1/4).
According to the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now," all three centers had been under review throughout the past year because of "deficient practices" and "chronic systems failures in providing patient care" after problems were discovered during a Center for Investigative Reporting investigation (Alpert Reyes, "L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 1/3).
Details of DPH Actions
Ron Chapman, director of the state health department, said, "The actions we're taking today are necessary to ensure that the developmental centers improve the quality of care at these facilities."
A DPH spokesperson said specific details about the nature of the facilities' problems will become available at a later date (Modern Healthcare, 1/3).
DPH said it will continue to work to ensure the facilities come into compliance ("L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 1/3).
Implications
If the centers do not come into compliance, they could lose some of their Medicaid funding by mid-May.
According to AP/KPCC's "KPCC News," cutting such funding would affect 430 individuals at the centers ("KPCC News," AP/KPCC, 1/4).
Response From State Department of Developmental Services
The state Department of Developmental Services said the centers "remain fully operational and services are not adversely impacted by these actions." The agency added that it is "committed to making the necessary improvements that ensure appropriate and safe services at these facilities."
In addition, the agency said it has appealed against the termination of Medicaid funding ("L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 1/3).
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