San Francisco health officials report progress toward Laguna Honda recertification as public warns transfers risk lives

The San Francisco Department of Public Health on May 2 told the Health Commission it has completed substantial corrective work at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center and is preparing for a third, comprehensive monitoring survey by federal and state regulators.

DPH operations leader Roland Pickens said the city and state signed a settlement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last November that keeps Medicare funding in place while Laguna Honda pursues recertification. The settlement requires a CMS-approved quality improvement expert (QIE) to lead a root-cause analysis and validate corrective action milestones. Pickens said the original action plan of roughly 330 milestones has expanded to about 500 milestones after follow-up reviews, and that monthly QIE reports document progress. "We are on track to complete the initial 330 milestones by May 13," Pickens said, adding teams are working to place residents who no longer meet skilled-nursing levels into community settings as directed by CMS.

Why it matters: CMS resumed a limited role in funding under the settlement but has authority over transfers and…