San Francisco Approves Settlement in Patient Dumping Lawsuit
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to approve a $400,000 settlement from Nevada over allegations that the state wrongfully and intentionally bused patients with mental illnesses to the area and did not cover the costs of their care, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (Har, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 10/27).
Background
In 2013, the city of San Francisco filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Nevada over the improper busing of patients with mental illnesses to California.
According to a Sacramento Bee review of bus receipts kept by the Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services, the number of patients with mental illnesses sent by Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas to other cities via Greyhound bus increased by 66% from 2009 to 2012.
The Bee found that Rawson-Neal has sent more than 1,500 patients to other cities since July 2008.
According to the review, about one-third of such individuals traveled to California (California Healthline, 9/11/13).
Rawson-Neal lost its accreditation in 2013 following investigations into its patient busing practices. However, the facility was reaccredited by the Joint Commission earlier this year (California Healthline, 4/2).
Details of Settlement
Under the agreement, Nevada would pay $400,000 to compensate the city and county for costs related to the patients (California Healthline, 10/6).
In addition, the settlement requires Nevada to only offer transportation to California for patients who have a home address in the state or who are traveling to a California treatment facility.
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said he was pleased with the settlement.
The agreement still must undergo a second San Francisco Board of Supervisors vote and court approval (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 10/27).
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