County Medical Center Could Lose CMS Funding
Alameda County Medical Center could lose federal Medicare and Medi-Cal funding if improvements in medical records, pharmacy services and physical environment departments are not made before CMS conducts its next inspection of the facilities, the Oakland Tribune reports.
The county-run medical center -- which includes Highland Hospital in Oakland, Fairmont Hospital and John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro and outpatient clinics in Oakland, Newark and Hayward -- was cited for deficiencies in those three areas after a CMS inspection in March.
The medical center submitted a corrective plan to CMS earlier this month. After the agency finishes reviewing in the plan, state and federal regulators will conduct another inspection within 60 days. If adequate improvements have not been made, the medical center will lose its CMS contract on June 9, according to Steve Chickering, a regional CMS official.
Medical center CEO Wright Lassiter said he has "absolute confidence" the medical center will pass the next inspection (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 5/24).