Letter: Response to St. Louise story

As you reported in “Bids are in for St. Louise Sale,” September, 19, 2014, it is believed there are seven prospective buyers for the Daughters of Charity Healthcare System’s six safety net hospitals, including St. Louise. The names of the bidders have been kept confidential; however, several news reports claim Prime Healthcare Services is one of the potential buyers.
Our SALUD, a grassroots healthcare watchdog organization, neither opposes a sale or selling the six safety net hospitals owned by the Daughters of Charity Healthcare System. We do, however, oppose selling to an operator like Prime Health Care with a history of questionable practices.
There is widespread community concern from all five Los Angeles County supervisors and The City of Lynwood about the potential sale of the Daughters of Charity Healthcare System to Prime Health Care, a for-profit healthcare system with a checkered past. Prime Healthcare’s billing and reimbursement practices are currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. In June, Our SALUD, filed a complaint against the California Department of Public Health for failing to enforce the rules and regulations on Prime Health Care to protect access to essential health care services.
If the Daughters of Charity truly want to protect the legacy these extraordinary hospitals have played in the community by caring for the sick and the poor, Prime Health Care should not be the winning bidder. Saying No to Prime is not saying no to a sale.
Elba Romo and Nestor Valencia, Co-Founders, Our SALUD