San Francisco officials press CMS as Laguna Honda seeks recertification; hearing continued to September

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened a public hearing on May 9 about Laguna Honda Hospital’s plan for recertification and a closure, transfer and relocation plan, hearing a status report from interim CEO Roland Pickens and sustained public comment urging the city and federal regulators not to resume forced transfers.

The hospital and city officials described progress toward meeting conditions set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but stressed they remain dependent on CMS to extend a pause on transfers that currently expires May 19. “We are still awaiting a response for CMS on that request,” said Roland Pickens, interim chief executive officer at Laguna Honda Hospital and director of the San Francisco Health Network.

The matter prompted sustained comment from advocates, residents and hospital staff who said involuntary transfers last year were traumatic and deadly. “Readmissions must restart as soon as possible,” said Norman Daigleman, a longtime San Francisco resident. Laura Quiera of Legal Assistance to the Elderly told supervisors, “a 20% death rate of transfers is not acceptable.”

Why it matters: Laguna Honda provides long-term skilled nursing care to hundreds of San Franciscans and the hospital’s Medicare and Medi-Cal participation accounted for roughly half a…