8/11/2019 Letter to HHS Asking for Update to Daughters of Charity Sale

1/1

MICHAELM. HONDA COMMITTEEON APPROPRIATIONS 7TH DISTRIcT CALIFORNIA SUBCOMMITrEES:

COMMERCE JUSTICE SCIENCEWASHINGTONOFFICE: LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

1713 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING EDUCATIONWASHINGTON DC 20515 _ _ _ _ _ _ _PHONE: 2021 2252631 NIOR WHIPFAx: 12021 2252699

http llwww honda house goVCONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC

D~TRICTOFflCE:

ot ~Ijntteb~tat~ AMERICAN CAUCUS ChAIR EMERITUS

SUITE 670W SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

~ou~e ot ~eprc~tntatibe~ COALITION VICE CHAIR 8551 6803759 LOST EQUALITY CAUCUS

FAX: 4081 4362721 VICE CHAIR

September 15,2014

Leon Rodriguez, DirectorOffice fo r Civil RightsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, S WWashington, D.C. 20201

Dear Mr. Rodriguez:

I am writingto request an update on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS ongoinginvestigation of Prime Healthcare Services for alleged violations of patient confidentialitylaws. As y ou mayknow, the possibility has been raised of Prime Healthcare Services purchasing the Daughters of CharityHealth System hospitals in California. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Labor, Health andHuman Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Representative of the 7th District ofCalifornia, the assurance that the medically underserved have access to quality health care is of greatimportance to me. It ha s been reported that Prime Healthcare Services ha s been investigated by HHS forfraudulent Medicare and Medi-Cal billing,and has been investigated by the Department of Justice fo r unfairlabor practices as well. I request an update on your investigation,so I may be fully informed while this saleis still being reviewed. These reports are particularly concerning in the context of a possible purchase of sixCalifornia hospitals.

Daughters of Charity San Jose OConnor Hospital is an integral part of Santa Clara Countys health system.The Daughters of Charity have provided health care to those in most need, including the uninsured,medically underserved, and low-income residents fo r over 150 years. OConnor Hospital and the Daughtersof Charity Health Systems longstanding commitment to charity and service to the underserved populationha s earned it a reputation for excellent health care.

An y reduction in the quality of,or access to, care will deeply impact the health of our community. While Iam encouraged by the millions of Californians who enrolled in private health care plans or Medi-Cal thoughthe first year of the Affordable Care Ac t enrollment, I recognize that there are still many who remain relianton safety net hospitals and clinics fo r their primary care. The need fo r robust services for Medi-Cal, indigent,and non-eligible populations is significant. Income disparity should not be a barrier to health care. The lossof these invaluable services from OConnorHospital will increase the burden on other local heath centersand hospitals, which already have limited resources and capacity fo r indigent populations. I am concernedthat limitingthese resources could mean endangering the lives of thousands who rely on quality servicesfrom OConnorHospital. We need to be assured that if Daughters of Charity System Hospitals are sold, thatits hospitals go to the best providers.

I look forwardto your timely response.

Sincerely,

Michael M. HondaMember of Congress

PRIN T E D O N RE CYCL E DPAPER