San Jose hospital to limit Medi-Cal services

[Kadie]

San Jose hospital to limit Medi-Cal services

The Associated Press


Last Updated: October 31, 2004, 06:45:18 PM PST


SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Thousands of Medi-Cal patients in Santa Clara County may not be able to use their local hospital to deliver babies or have non-emergency operations beginning Monday when the Regional Medical Center is expected to stop accepting a major form of the insurance.

The hospital will continue to serve Medi-Cal patients in emergencies and those whose insurance is run by a third-party plan.

"Other hospitals are trying to get ready for this," Kim Roberts, chief financial officer of the public Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, told the San Jose Mercury News. "The community is trying to respond the best we can."

Regional Medical Center is owned by HCA Inc., the nation's largest for-profit hospital operator. HCA owns two other hospitals in San Jose, the Good Samaritan Hospital and the San Jose Medical Center, which will close in early December.

more...
http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/9363562p-10270889c.html

[SharonAnn]

1. Why that's the Frist family hospital chain! Surely, they wouldn't do that

Would they?

Why, it would make one think that they were more interested in making lots of money for themselves rather than in providing health care.

[aquart]

2. Nothing so important to the health of a community

Should be in private hands.

[sandnsea]

3. Give up your right to sue

And they'll be in control instead of the government and be able to do any damned thing they want. HCA profits up:
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2002/04/22/daily1.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2003/10/20/daily14.html