Laguna Honda recertified for Medicare

Skilled nursing facility Laguna Honda is able to admit both Medicare and Medicaid patients after being approved for final recertification this week, marking an end to a tumultuous couple of years that entailed patient transfers and a lawsuit from the city attorney.

Why it matters: All of Laguna Honda's patients rely on either Medicare or Medicaid, but the facility must be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be reimbursed by the government for patient care.

Catch up quick: In April 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revoked Laguna Hospital's Medicare and Medicaid certifications after determining the hospital had not complied with multiple federal safety requirements, including infection prevention and control and consistent medication dosing.

• At the time, the facility was at risk of closing its doors after 150 years of operations and was forced to transfer patients .
• Those patient transfers were later paused following the deaths of some medically fragile patients and a lawsuit settlement that extended that pause through last September.
• Last August , CMS approved Laguna Honda's Medicaid recertification and this week approved the hospital for Medicare recertification, the city's public health department announced in a press release.
• The city's public health department has spent the last several months preparing to resume new admissions, according to the department.
• The health department has also reached out to former residents who had been transferred to see if they would like to come back, according to the department.

Context: Laguna Honda cares for a variety of patients, including those recovering from strokes or traumatic brain injuries, as well as those with dementia, mental health disorders and other comparable conditions.

• The majority (95%) of its patients rely on Medicaid funding while the others rely on Medicare, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

What they're saying: "I am grateful for the relief this brings to our current residents and their families, who have made clear that Laguna Honda is where they want to receive care," Mayor London Breed said in a press release.

• City Attorney David Chiu said in the press release that this step means the hospital "will be here to care for San Franciscans for generations to come."

What to watch: Next up for the city's health department is its ongoing contract negotiations with SEIU Local 1021, which represents 2,300 nurses in the city.

• Last month , nurses picketed outside Laguna Hospital over issues with the facility and the bargaining process.
• In a statement, SEIU Local 1021 president Theresa Rutherford said the union and its members "look forward to continuing to create a skilled nursing facility that is an excellent place to work for our members and an excellent place to receive care for our residents."