St. John’s Hospital Reaches Agreement Over In-Network Doctors With Anthem
Health news from around the states comes out of Ventura, Riverside, Coachella, North and Alameda counties, as well as Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
Ventura County Star:
St. John's Hospitals, Anthem Agree To Last-Minute Deal
A last-minute contract agreement means patients covered by Anthem Blue Cross will keep their in-network access to doctors at St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo, officials said. An agreement over the insurer’s payment for doctors’ care at the local hospitals and other facilities in the Dignity Health system was originally set to expire in mid-July. The contract was extended 30 days, to 11:59 p.m. Aug. 13, with the risk of doctors falling out of the Anthem Blue Cross network if talks failed or were not extended again. (Kisken, 8/20)
The Desert Sun:
New Funds Seek To Combat Opioid Abuse In The Valley
Compared with many other areas of the country and the state, Riverside County has, for the most part, managed to escape the tight grip of the opioid epidemic, but parts of the Coachella Valley have seen above-average rates of deaths caused by opioid overdoses during the past two years, health officials said. In 2017, the ZIP codes in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and the unincorporated communities bordering Joshua Tree National Park recorded the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths in the county. In that year, the 92264 ZIP code surpassed the rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 residents of the most affected counties in the rural north of the state. (Maschke, 8/20)
KPBS:
Tri-City To Reconsider Decision To Close Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
The board of Tri-City Healthcare District in North County will reconsider its decision to close its inpatient psychiatric units. The publicly-elected board will hold an open meeting Tuesday to provide an opportunity for interested parties to provide testimony. (St John, 8/20)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Alameda County Inmate Gave Birth In Isolation Cell, Her Screams Ignored, Suit Says
A homeless inmate gave birth last year in Alameda County’s jail while she lay alone in a cold, dirty concrete solitary confinement cell after guards ignored her screams for hours, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday. The mother was locked into the isolation cell after medical staff accused her of exaggerating complaints of pain and cramping, and deputies decided to punish her for the exaggeration, the suit says. (Fagan, 8/20)
KPCC:
Preparation For Parker Center Demolition Begins Despite Lawsuit
City officials announced plans to demolish the old LAPD headquarters and replace it with an office skyscraper for city workers, and on Monday, work began on the 18 month old project. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has sued the city, calling it a waste of taxpayer money and proposing instead to convert the space into housing for LA's homeless. (Wells, 8/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Warrant Confirms Man Detained While On Way To Hospital With Pregnant Wife Is Wanted For Murder In Mexico
An immigrant in the U.S. illegally who was detained by federal officers in San Bernardino last week while heading to the hospital with his pregnant wife is one of three men listed in an arrest warrant for a 2006 murder in Mexico. Joel Arrona-Lara is wanted in connection with the killing of Miguel Ángel Morales Rodríguez, alias “El Garcia,” according to the arrest warrant, which was provided by a law enforcement official who is not authorized to speak publicly about the case. (Mejia, 8/20)