For-Profit Hospital Chain in California at Risk of Losing Medicare Funds
Southwest Healthcare System could lose eligibility to participate in Medicare if it does not correct problems inspectors from the California Department of Public Health identified in a March 5 inspection, the Riverside Press Enterprise reports.
This is the third time in two years that state officials have threatened to cut off payments for the for-profit hospital chain, which owns Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta and Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.
Hospital leaders met with CMS officials on April 9 to discuss the deficiencies.Â
Teresa Fleege, a spokesperson for Southwest, said the company was confident it would pass an unannounced state inspection, adding, "We have worked diligently to address all of the concerns the Department of Public Health had."
If the facilities do not pass the upcoming inspection, Southwest would be dropped from Medicare no later than July 15, according to a letter from DPH dated April 15 (Burgin, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/21).
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