Nonprofit hospice agencies are not cited in State Auditor’s report
A recent Record Bee article referred to a report on the Hospice care industry from Acting State Auditor, Michael Tilden. I want to assure our referring health care providers, community partners and Lake County residents that the article does not reflect our standing with Medicare or Medi-Cal. The article stated that California’s “weak” oversight of the hospice care industry has “enabled” rampant fraud and abuse that has cost the state and the federal Medicare program millions of dollars while endangering extremely vulnerable patients, according to a scathing report from the acting state auditor.
We are deeply disappointed in the findings of the state auditor which makes allegations about Hospice organizations that have violated Medicare and Medi-Cal regulations. Hospice Services of Lake County and other members of the Northern California coalition of nonprofit hospice agencies are NOT cited in this report and have not been found to have committed fraud or endangered patients needing care.
Hospice Services of Lake County has been honored to provide professional and compassionate care in Lake County for over 42 years. As a nonprofit organization, we strive every day to meet the needs of our community with integrity and in compliance with regulatory standards required by Medicare and Medi-Cal.
The Hospice Services of Lake County Board of Directors provides diligent oversite of all agency operations at monthly meetings and by incorporating annual fiscal audits. We have successfully participated in regular reviews conducted by Medicare surveyors. These reviews rigorously scrutinize all aspects of the organization’s policies, practices and most important, the quality of care provided to patients at the end of life. Furthermore, Hospice Services and Lake Palliative Care received accreditation by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner) in 2021, which distinguishes our agency as meeting a higher standard of care.
“The report highlighted how the rapid growth of hospices — almost all of which are for-profit — has put patients at risk of substandard care at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. We support the State of California’s work to protect both the integrity of hospice care and the consumers who need it,” stated Craig Dresang, CEO of California-based Yolo Cares.
As the Executive Director of Hospice Services of Lake County, I want to assure Lake County residents that we will continue to provide the upmost professional and compassionate care for your loved ones every day. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to our health care partners and community members for their support in serving patients at this important time of life. I invite Lake County residents to contact me if you or a loved one want to explore Hospice care as an option for treating a serious illness.
—Cindy Sobel, executive director Hospice Services of Lake County
Letter writer’s family is from Ukraine
Isn’t it about time Americans understand how Putin invaded Ukraine so easily?
Russians follow his orders because Putin has his hands on the means of communication (news and education agencies) and also on the means of force (the regular police, and the secret police).
When Putin says “Ukrainians started this,” his political minions put it out as truth and the people believe it. We have many adult children in America today who follow their leaders to the edge of dangerous cliffs every day.
Putin also talked his country into allowing him to stay in power for 22 years. In a real democracy, there are always short-term limits that are enforced like the nation’s life depends on it. Not in Russia or China.
Our Representatives and Senators are not telling this story because they are well along the path of accumulating corrupt lifetime power themselves. America is already partially Putinized.
True democracies put government into the hands of a constitutional law decided upon by all of the people. The people only know what to put into that law when they have thoroughly versed themselves in their own history and the history of other nations.
We have already disarmed our minds, so our liberties are quickly melting away.
—Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah
