New Effort Credited With Helping Hospitals in L.A. County With Homeless
A recuperative care program for the homeless has reportedly saved hospitals in Los Angeles County $3 million in its first 12 months and is helping the facilities avoid fines under a new city law, HealthLeaders Media reports.
The law targets "patient dumping," the discharging of homeless patients from hospitals to the streets.
The Recuperative Care Program is located in Bell, a city about eight miles south of downtown Los Angeles. It has 30 beds available, and about 25 hospitals in Los Angeles County are discharging patients to the program.
Before it launched, hospital officials said they often had to keep homeless patients in the hospital until the facility could find a provider of recommended case management services for the patient (Clark, HealthLeaders Media, 5/18). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.