Hospital Water Bills At Center Of Lawsuit Between City Of Poway, Palomar Health
In other industry news, Coachella Valley considers a health services fund to boost care in underserved areas. And doctors in Central Valley weigh in on a state program targeting physician training and shortages.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Poway Sues Palomar Health For Unpaid Water Bills
After six months of failed negotiations, the city of Poway has sued Palomar Health for up to $800,000 the healthcare district was mistakenly undercharged for city water used by Pomerado Hospital between 2008 and 2015. For seven years, due to a meter-reading error, the city charged Pomerado Hospital for just 10 percent of the actual water that was delivered to its Poway hospital campus. (Jones, 1/4)
The Desert Sun:
Desert Regional Profits Could Support Larger Desert Healthcare District
Money coming from the hospital in Palm Springs could help pay for new health services throughout the Coachella Valley, and most notably in eastern communities, under one of several plans put forward to raise millions of additional dollars for local health care needs. The idea of having Tenet Healthcare Corp. — or whoever someday runs Desert Regional Medical Center — contribute funds for valleywide health services has come up amid ongoing plans by the Desert Healthcare District to more than double its reach and boost services in the under-served east. No decisions have been made and no details of a potential agreement have been worked out, but the option has strong support from state Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia of Coachella. (Newkirk, 1/4)
Central Valley Business Times:
Doctors Praise State Program To Improve Central Valley Healthcare
Healthcare could be improved in the Central Valley and others parts of the state where the number of physicians is low under a three-year, $100 million allotment from California’s General Fund. The money targets the shortage and training of primary care physicians in the state’s medically underserved areas. (1/4)