| JANUARY, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| | |
| 101 | Goldstein | Private Chain Buys Southeast Hospital--spirits of remaining staff up--merger with nearly Hadley likely |
| 104 | Goldstein | 4 Top Drug Treatment Agency Officials Out--Walks to restructure APRA, privatize more, 65K abusers |
| 107 | Goldstein | DC General's Role Dominates Health Care Hearing--as PubBenCorp (PBC) lobby pushes status quo |
| 107 | Shen | Maryland Child Abuse Deaths up 50% from 24 to 36 as total reports rise from 28K in '94 to 31K in '99 |
| 107 | Goldstein | CFO of MD's Shady Grove Adventist Hospital for better job--collected $379K compensation in '98! |
| 108 | Goldstein | Two Contractors' Mistakes Disrupt DC Medicaid--over 3000 patients disrupted by technical, other errors |
| 110 | Woodlee | CFO Questions $2M for Office Furniture for new Child/Family Services bldg in SW despite $24M shortfall |
| 110 | Editor | Group Home Deaths: Week 5--audits ,new personnel, etc. good: must clean house at Human Services |
| 110 | Editor | 36 Children Dead from Abuse--caseloads too high? legislature must move to provide help right away |
| 112 | Horowitz | Ailing Head of Criticized Dept of Human Services on extended medical leave--not expected to return |
| 114 | Walsh | Clinton To Seek Doubling of Aid to Poor Neighborhoods--Hastert to help leverage $20B to communities |
| 115 | Goldstein | MD Hospital Firm Executive to Retire--departure comes on heels of problems at Shady Grove Adventist |
| 116 | Loose | $11M DC Welfare Fund Shift to Foster Care Draws Fire--activists resist mismanaged agency 'bailout' |
| 119 | Horwitz | Williams Fires Five Overseeing Retarded--aides say mayor wants to 'blow up" and rebuild MRDDA |
| 120 | Editor | Group Home Deaths: Week Six--agencies need total rework--worsened for years under Council, 2 mayors |
| 120 | Horwitz | DC's Care for Retarded to Go Private--mayor may fire more in Human Services, Health agencies |
| 122 | King | Ugly Americana--DC Kids' troubles worst crisis since slavery; babies having babies, single moms, etc. |
| 123 | Offner (cont) | Enrollees spend 2.4x too much on inpatient care, 50% on outpatient care; pay 2x too much for uninsured |
| 123 | Offner OpEd | We Can Afford to Insure All DC Residents--get $80-120M from tobacco settlement, subsidies to hospitals |
| 129 | Goldstein | Georgetown U Medical Cntr Reports $83M loss--largest operator (777 of 907 beds) lost $120M in '97-98 |
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| FEBRUARY, 2000 |
HUMAN SERVICES |
|
|
|
| 202 |
Editor |
Shining a Light on Death--Council votes to lift secrecy on deaths of kids in DC welfare system--enforce it! |
| 202 |
Horwitz |
DC Council Mulls Disclosure of Foster Care Records--current laws protect adults, not kids! |
| 204 |
Horwitz |
DC Foster Care Reports (to judges deciding kids' fates) Often Late--officials say workers can't keep up |
| 205 |
King |
10-Yr-Olds on Drugs--Teachers can't fix kids ruined at home, nor can demagogues, racists, conspiritists |
| 207 |
LtrstoEds |
DC's 80,000 Uninsured: two writers claim Offner oversimplifies ability to squeeze medicaid paid to hospitals |
| 209 |
Staff |
Welfare-to-(Fed)Work Program Starts--DoI, PTO offer entry-level jobs for DC needy pushed by Catania |
| 209 |
Greene |
Group Home Medicaid Funds at Risk--US moves against 5 DC units after HCFA finds serious problems |
| 209 |
Horwitz |
Mayor: Slain Girl's Move Not Approved--outraged Williams wants foster care details publicized |
| 210 |
Goldstein |
Hospital Moves to Fire Elected Staff Leader--DC Gen'l trauma unit boss said to treat too few patients |
| 211 |
Staff |
Anacostia Family Resource Cntr Opens--tutors kids, job training, literacy, skills for parents--USMC helped |
| 212 |
Editor |
When Did They Know It? did top DC officials know about problems in retarded group homes for a year? |
| 215 |
Vobejda |
City Wards Face Daily Indignities--DoJ documents detail suffering of mentally retarded in DC system |
| 218 |
Goldstein |
MedStar,G'town U Strike Hospital Deal--firm to run facility, assume debts--merge load w/WashHospCntr |
| 219 |
Williams |
Mayor's Aides Questioned on Group Homes for Retarded--DHS boss alleged to keep top staff in dark |
| 220 |
Stoesz LtrtoEd |
Failed Social Workers--graduate programs fail to weed out students unsuited to human services career |
| 223 |
Goldstein |
DC Infant Mortality Rate Lower Again--12.5 deaths/1000 in '98 v 23.1 in '89: 3.1 for whites, 15.0, non-whites |
| 223 |
Editor |
The Truth about Group Homes--DC Council in best position to resolve bad handling of mentally retarded |
| 223 |
Goldstein |
Team Inspects Shady Grove Hospital--accreditation, medicare at stake: got advanced warning? |
| 224 |
Staff |
Aides to Mayor to be Probed on Group Homes--who knew what, when, and what did they do? |
| 225 |
Editor |
Billing for Abuse--how could DC DoH try to recover funds from estate of mentally retarded victim? |
| 226 |
Staff |
City Agrees to Speed Up Adoptions--DC averages 42 mos: feds want 12 mos or lose $42M--1000 waiting |
| 226 |
Greene |
DC Claim on Estate Dropped--retarded man died in city group home--tot medicaid costs were $441K |
| 227 |
Goldstein |
DC Panel Offers Health Proposals--move some medicaid $ from hosps, push tax credits, punt on DC Gen'l |
| 228 |
Horwitz |
Record Numbers of DC Kids Shifted Into Foster Care--caseworkers scared by recent abusive death |
| MARCH, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 301 | Dvorak | City Moves Residents Kept Locked In Community Home for Mentally Ill--conditions deplorable inside |
| 302 | Horwitz | Plan Would End Mental Health Care Rcvrship--$225K boss didn't improve lot of homeless, mentally ill |
| 302 | Dvorak | Freelance Boarding Homes Part of Unofficial Network for Mentally Ill--no licenses needed, no inspection |
| 302 | Dvorak | Probe of Squalid House Clears Social Worker--as 'advisor', not 'placer': 4' of garbage brings citywide alert |
| 305 | King | When Do We Care About Kids? -- only when disadvantaged kids already too deep in trouble, have guns |
| 307 | Fehr | DC Jail's Medical Costs Too High, Says Norton--$19 per day 3x nat'l average for each of 1670 inmates |
| 307 | Miller | Judge OK's Plan to Restore DC's Control of Mental Health--new receiver to plan for DC control by 4/01 |
| 308 | Goldstein | Inspectors Surprise DC Gen'l Hosp.--accreditors visit after staff leader fired: Council may ease firing laws |
| 312 | Perez-Rivas | Montgomery Cnty Reopens List for Section 8 Rent Subsidies--first time 8 yrs, add 777 to 4679 hshlds |
| 313 | Goldstein | 9 Clinics Serving DC's Poor Are Unlicensed--for 2.5 yrs under PBC--funding, accreditation at risk |
| 317 | Goldstein | MD's Shady Grove Adventist Remains Unaccredited--problems persist--leadership, planning bad |
| 318 | Goldstein | DC Asks DC Gen'l to Repay $10.2M--PBC booked claim Medicaid owed it $10M--now down $20M! |
| 324 | Joyce | Labor Dept Program Will Train regional 'Displaced Workers' in new 'Metro Tech' project--pilot worked |
| 324 | Goldstein | Shady Grove Hospital Gives Montgomery Cncl Optimistic Report--aims to regain status later this year |
| 327 | Horwitz | DC Foster Care Caseload 'Horrible'--social wkrs 2.3xlimit for traditional; 1.7x for therapeutic; 1.4x for teens |
| 328 | Goldstein | DC Cracks Down on Provider Medicaid Fraud--DCIG forms first anti-fraud unit since '83: 75% fed funding |
| 328 | LeDuc | MD Senate Endorses 26/21 Built-in Gun Locks--groundbreaking bill advances to MD House, despite NRA |
| APRIL, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 404 | Editor | Bummer of a Bus System--contractor retained despite driver incompetence--time for city to get serious |
| 406 | Miller | DC Gets Reprieve from $5M+ Fines Over Treatment of Retarded--jury trial needed: $6.3M more ahead |
| 409 | Witt | Crisis in Child Welfare Hiring--probing abuse is hard job--hard sell in booming economy (pay $30-34K) |
| 412 | Editor | Find the Truth about Group Homes--former Human Services head says mayor's staff knew--they deny it |
| 413 | Goldstein | Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Names New CEO--base salary $220K: 263-beds, staff over 5500 |
| 414 | Mencimer(CP) | Strung Out/Strung Along--100's await help while APRA piles up cronies, surplus eqpt, sweetheart deals |
| 415 | Goldstein | Problems Persist at Shady Grove Hospital--state regulators cite errors by staff, lack of action by board |
| 420 | Leonnig | DC Ousts 2 at Mental Health Agency--CFO, chief contracting officer 'jeopardize 9000 in their care' |
| 422 | Horwitz | 'Brinna Report' Cites Chaos in 7 DC Agencies--MRDA, Health Services, PBC, CFS, etc. had part in death |
| 428 | Editor | Children Still in Peril--Ackerman calls for community effort to make kids safe at home, in school--so how? |
| 428 | Goldstein | Hospital Agency's Deficit Growing-- borrowed $20M more--if private, PBC would be declared bankrupt |
| MAY, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 504 | Leonnig | Reviw of Mental Health Deaths Urged--advocates deplore 'fragile' patients' treatment: demand action |
| 506 | Higham | Brianna's Death Motivates House Probe of DC Agency--recommended welfare reforms ignored for yrs |
| 507 | Goldstein | From All Sides, Criticism of DC General Piling Up--PBC's Fairman under fire for not firing/ planned firings |
| 509 | Staff | DC General Gets Surprise Inspection--after receiving complaints from workers about irregularities |
| 509 | Staff | Nurses Criticize GU Hospital Purchase (by MedStar)--fear that ailing Georgetown will siphon off funds |
| 510 | Editor | Losers: Taxpayers and the Poor--grants handed out despite plea from DCHA's Gilmore to hold off |
| 513 | Goldstein | DC General Workers Stage Protest--unions demonstrate against CEO Fairman for raises, better care |
| 514 | McDonald ltr | Clueless on Homeless--DC's emergency shelter strategy ineffective, outdated--doesn't teach job skills |
| 517 | Brubaker | MedStar Health's Bond Rating Downgraded--only to BBB-plus--runs Washington Hospital Center |
| 517 | Miller | Ex-DC Head of MRDDA Convicted of Conflict of Interest--got $30K from contractor serving retarded |
| 518 | Editor | Getting at the Tragic Truth--Council hearings to start on group homes run by MRDDA--gotta fix problems |
| 518 | Greene/Sun | Deaths Put DC Group Home Firm Under Scrutiny--alleged abuse of mentally ill spurs probes, suits |
| 519 | Vobejda | Concerns Raised Re Program for Retarded--556 adults do simple work at contractor site: $10M per year |
| 519 | Editor | DC's Doctor Bill--Council looks at bill to let doctors bargain with insurers--not ready for such a decision |
| 521 | Goldstein | Congress Wants to Probe Loans to DC Gen'l--many want hospital closed, PBC boss got $239K w/bonus! |
| 526 | Editor | They All Failed the Voiceless--DC Council/executive must substantially improve care of mentally troubled |
| 531 | Woodlee | Mayor Unaware of Group Home Abuses, Say Senior Staff: Omer, Dong, Graham --too many 'don't knows'? |
| 531 | Gutierrez LtrEd | 'DC Doctor Bill'--DC bill to regulate doctor negotiations w/HMO's OK: would help balance playingfield |
| JUNE, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 601 | Woodlee | Williams Promises Better Care for Retarded--pledges to fix group homes in fundamentally broken system |
| 601 | Staff | Birthrate for MD Teens Declines Again for 7th year--21 per 1000 teenage girls in '98 |
| 601 | Goldstein | Council Members Linked to Hires at DC General--hiring practices called 'outrageous' |
| 602 | Woodlee | Mayor Takes Some Blame for Group Home Abuses--DHS ex-director claims many memos sent up |
| 602 | Staff | Sale of Georgetown U hospital and medical network to MedStar--will assume $80M debt, 3-4000 wkrs |
| 603 | Staff | US Surgeon General Backs Mayor's Health Plans for 65% tobacco $--Council wants 65% saved |
| 603 | Editor | Playing Favorites--PBC padding DC Gen'l payroll with friends/relatives of Council mbrs, others |
| 605 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Board Overhauled--mayor acts on critical rpt--Fairman ignores problems--Walks 'outraged' |
| 605 | Blum | DC Schools Losing Millions in Medicaid--lack of special ed records curbs reimbursement--$10M pa? |
| 607 | Staff | DC Council OK's Doctors Collective Bargaining w/HMOs w/o anti-trust fear--lobbyists turn to Congress |
| 608 | Editor (WT) | DC General on Life Support--PBC in serious trouble--Fairman maybe on way out--hope new board helps! |
| 609 | Editor | Unsnarling DC General--consultants' review say board superficial, top-heavy managers inexperienced |
| 609 | Ataiyero | Prince George's School Wellness Centers Help Often-Overlooked Youths--with no other health care |
| 613 | Offner OpEd | Welfare:Now for the Men--80% blk women 20-24 birth out of wedlock--gotta get young men jobs, married |
| 613 | Goldstein | DC General Spending Subject of Federal Probe--Fairman using uncontrolled bank account--illegal |
| 616 | Goldstein | Hospital Agency Banking Halted--PBC's Fairman told by DC CFO to use only DC;s financial system |
| 616 | Leonnig | Review of St. Elizabeth's Finds Key Shortfalls--fed reviewers fault nurse shortage, care, top supervisors |
| 617 | Goldstein | New DC General Overseers Take Over--4 new board members (not yet Council-OK'd) dig into books |
| 623 | Miller | DC Contractor Gets Prison for Medicaid Fraud--misused $1.6M intended for mentally retarded care |
| 625 | Freed ltr | DC General: Easy to Fault, Hard to Fix--can't ever make profit providing hi-tech care to poorest of poor! |
| 626 | Goldstein | Group to Pay Addicts to Take Birth Control--offer mentally ill drug abusers $200 for 'long-term control' |
| JULY, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 701 | Goldstein | Hospital Agency Chief Put on Leave--Fairman relieved, replaced by close ally for 30 days |
| 707 | Goldstein | DC General Official Seeks $1M in Severance Pay--per little-known contract addendum by PBC bd |
| 707 | McCarthy quote | Outrageous/immoral to consider paying Fairman $1M; hospital a financial shambles, patients at risk |
| 708 | Woodlee | Oversight of DC's Retarded Criticized--Council special committee probe finds delays, indecision |
| 708 | Editor | Mr. Fairman's Far-Out Finale--excessive deal kept from city officials should not stand, nor PBC board! |
| 709 | Smith Ltr | Norton's Attack on Enormous Success--receiver turned broken DC jail health mess into modern clinic |
| 712 | Lengel | DC Toughens Marijuana Penalties--distribution conviction to become a felony--more like MD and VA |
| 712 | Staff | Council Rejects Conscience Exemption--Catholics to keep lobbying despite claims of intractability |
| 712 | Fahrenthold | DC Contraceptive Bill to be Amended--to add "conscience clause" to exempt Catholic run organizations |
| 712 | Goldstein | Panel Fires 18 in Bid to Save DC General--PBC board finally acts under new membership--why so long? |
| 713 | Sun | Retarded Man Left Stranded, in Restraints--DC Agency can't find place for 30-yr-old, in hospital 8 mos. |
| 713 | Fahrenthold | Hill Raps DC Over Insurance Demands--subcom. leaders want 'conscience clause' in birth control bill |
| 713 | Fisher | St. Elizabeth's Checkered Past, Grand Potential--old campus gone to seed--could be great for UDC |
| 713 | Goldstein | House Panel Rebukes DC on Hospital Loans--DC officials never questioned practice despite defaults |
| 715 | King | Clash over 'Conscience Clause'--self gov't as important as religious freedom--keep uninformed Hill out |
| 715 | Goldsterin | DC General Hospital Agency Enlists Help on Chief's Severance Deal--hires law firm to limit immoral deal |
| 720 | Tucker | List of Attorneys for Poor in DC Court Halved--sets tighter standards for 335 remaining from 678 |
| 720 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Renovation Put at $112M--consultant says replacement may be better: too big, old, run-down |
| 721 | Patton | DC Goes After Deadbeat Parents--200 owe $6M: child supt program involved with 300K kids/parents |
| 721 | Goldstein | Hospital Faces Major Surgery--PBC (!) began work to shrink DC Gen'l. Deficits likely to keep climbing |
| 722 | Staff | DC Owes Hospitals, Court Affirms--DC failed to compensate hospitals for Medicaid underpayment |
| 722 | Leonnig | Trainees Show Up, but Checks Don't--DC jobs program fails to pay women its trying to get off welfare |
| 723 | Goldstein | DC Jail Illness Triggers Testing--Legionnaires' disease hits guard at facility--gotta test all inmates |
| 724 | Editor | Welfare to Work--Without Pay--reprehensible too mild a word for failure to pay 40 new working women |
| 726 | Staff | Warning on Tobacco Sales to Minors--new DC DoPH campaign follows 100 stings, 103 citations |
| 729 | Goldstein | PBC Plan Bared to Salvage DC Gen'l--cut 300+ jobs, $39M frm budget, scale back empty beds, bldgs, etc. |
| 729 | Goldstein(cont) | PBC Plan Bared to Salvage DC Gen'l--Fairman offered $66K, vice million$ package requested! |
| AUGUST, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 810 | Newman | US Elderly (13%): Older, Healthier, Wealthier--but median of black 11% net worth $13K, whites $181K! |
| 810 | Chan | DC Welfare Funds to go to Children--critics say $12M grant shift from recipients to needy kids wrong-- |
| 812 | Horwitz | Top DC Official Ordered Arrested--staff, Chld/FamServicesAgency R'c'vr missed court re neglect case |
| 813 | Horwitz | Head of DC CFS Agency (in Receivership for 5 years) Choosing between Arrest, Surrender to courts |
| 815 | Goldstein | Caretakers of DC General Given Spending Ultimatum--CFO moves to force agency to live within means |
| 815 | Higham | DC Child Welfare Official Arrested--Chief Ernestine Jones chastised for defying court, not appearing |
| 815 | Editor | Don't Mess With Judge Christian--Jones should have obeyed--took warrant and handcuffs to make point |
| 816 | Editor | Dim Days for DC General--PBC now pays price for poor mgmt, poor oversight by elected officials |
| 819 | Higham | DC Study Lambastes City's Child Protection--cites breakdown in abuse probes--many agencies involved |
| 820 | Staff | DC Child Welfare Chief Raises Stakes--sues to bar local judges holding her accountable for agency acts |
| 823 | Goldstein | Severance Document Authenticity Questioned--PBC CEO Fairman may have used dubious document |
| 823 | Goldstein | US Welfare Reform Anniversary is Low-Ley, w/o Clinton--4.6M on '96 rolls down to 2.4M at end '99 |
| 824 | Horwitz | DC Child Welfare Chief Jones Drops Lawsuit--targeting local judges: why get arrested v settling quietly? |
| 824 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Plans 1000 Layoffs--PBC action could cause major changes in medical services delivery |
| 826 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Slashing Services, 550 jobs--restructuring to limit hospital to basic, urgent care, spread load |
| 827 | Offner ltr | DC Gen'l Everybody's Problem--question is how best to allocate $140M for indigent care; can't dismiss |
| 827 | Goldstein | Plans to Downsize DC Gen'l Upsets Staff, Patients--shift to 800-empl., 23-hr emergency cntr resisted |
| SEPTEMBER, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 830 | Sherwood | About DC Gen'l--what happens to patients and employees? some fear mayor's urge for ballpark site! |
| 902 | Fisher | Poor Will Foot Bill for Streamlining DC Gen'l--shift to 23-hr clinic will dump many--1/3rd of DC's free care |
| 906 | Higham | Md Turns Away DC Foster Kids--cite program chaos, fear for wards' safety--half of 3100 DC kids in Md! |
| 907 | Goldstein | DC Faulted on Charity Care--hospitals allowed to neglect the uninsured, says report, PBC/DCGH worst |
| 907 | Horwitz | DC Child Welfare to Get Congressional Scrutiny--House subcommittee wants 'emergency plan', answers |
| 909 | Goldstein | DC Council Delays Revamp of DC General--PBC officials warn of financial crisis if cuts don't start soon |
| 909 | Editor | Foster-Spanking: VA officials considering allowing foster parents to spank kids--should drop idea! |
| 910 | Chan | Child Supt Debtors Get 5-Day Amnesty--drive seeks $ owed single parents: DC worst, 1235 owe $6.7M |
| 910 | Walks ltr | No One to be Left in Lurch--full health care East of River as DC Gen'l changes--clinics, not emerg rooms |
| 912 | Fisher | For Dedication, Health Official Gets Pink Slip--speaking up gets DC's only epidemologist thrown out |
| 913 | Editor | Truth About DC General--Council right to raise questions; need answers re loss of trauma cntr, etc. |
| 917 | Chan | Child Support Amnesty Finds Fathers, Stories, Some Cash--600 parents report, pay $62K ,120K cases! |
| 918 | Goldstein | Case of Need at DC General--hospital hearing may show its role--80% of ER visits needed only clinics, |
| 919 | Goldstein | DC Council Members Deride Hospital Plan--proposal for DC Gen'l layoffs, conversion met uneasily |
| 919 | Staff | Mental Health Services to Cut 200 of 2000 Jobs--50 vacant, rest middle managers--to match nat'l stds? |
| 920 | Higham | GAO Study Faults DC Child Care--1200 case investigations fail court 2-day order, some 150 over 30 days |
| 920 | Goldstein | DC General PBC Officials Complain of Tax Calls--personal returns allegedly probed for non payment? |
| 921 | Woodlee | DC Uncovers Disability Plan Overpayments--wasting over $1M per year thru inefficiency, ineffectiveness |
| 921 | Goldstein | Washington Hospital Center Nurses Protest Mandatory Overtime--over 1200 out on strike re long hours |
| 921 | Horwitz | House Whip DeLay Pans DC Foster Care --agency, mayor told to devise new plan, rid incompetence, etc. |
| 922 | Woodlee | DC Rebuked for Idle Job Funds--Dept of Labor hits slow use of $9M in DC job program--only $639K spent |
| 922 | Staff | Nurses Continue Washington Hospital Center Strike--950 replacement workers handle full case load |
| 922 | Higham | DC Child Welfare Chief Apologizes to judges, others--tensions continue between receiver and city |
| 923 | Goldstein | City Explains Calls about Taxes--not intended to alarm DC Gen'l, PBC officials--didn't explain reasons |
| 924 | Leonnig | Health Care Licenses Stalled in DC office--2500 pending, office in turmoil, Walks promises improvements |
| 924 | Goldstein | Imported Nurses Step in for Strikers--temps loathed by peers, lauded at Washington Hospital Cntr |
| 924 | Malson OpEd | DC General's Woes Not Our Fault--DC Hosp Assn says private hospitals not unhelpful, chides Offner |
| 925 | Editor | Give the DC Courts a Chance--House should not cut funding--new chief and improved mgmt coming? |
| 926 | Staff | Wash Hospital Cntr, 1200 Striking Nurses Still Far Apart--union offers 16% raise over 3 yrs, no response |
| 926 | Chan | Progress Reported on Care of Retarded--but DC officials concede problems in MRDDA for 1155 patients |
| 927 | Chan | Child-Death Law Opposed in DC--advocates want records of abused kids protected for parents sake |
| 928 | Editor | Good Povery Rpt--new BuCensus rpt puts overall, child poverty at 20-yr low as prosperity trickles down |
| 929 | Staff | St. Elizabeth's Reinspected by US HCFA Team--$Fed80M at stake for 360-bed mental health hospital |
| 930 | Goldstein | 296 (v. 550) Axed at DC Gen'l--cuts hosp. frm 250- to 165-beds, bd mbr quits re Fairman severance cut |
| OCTOBER, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| 1003 | Staff | Progress, Problem Noted At St. Elizabeth's--team recommends OK'ing $80M in federal funds |
| 1005 | Goldstein | Uninsured Costs at DC Gen'l, Clinic Challenged--claim of $80M way too high: more personnel cuts ahead |
| 1005 | Horwitz | DC Offers Changes in Child Welfare System--six-prong reorg, consolidation effort expected to help |
| 1007 | Cropp ltr | No Prescription for DC General--Council hasn't delayed revamp, just hasn't got info for any decisions |
| 1008 | Editor | At Bus Drivers' Mercy--DCPS spec ed transpo a disgrace, get rid of incompetents now, care for needy |
| 1008 | Council ltr | Catania, Allen, Chavous propose merging DC Gen'l w/private hospital, bag PBC, stay on current campus! |
| 1008 | Cohn/Chan | Boost for DC's Poorest--economy cuts pov rate--1st drop since '80s frm 22% to 19%, jobless down to 5.4% |
| 1013 | Higham | DC Foster Care Receiver Resigns--Jones scuffled with Congress, courts, mixed reviews after 3 years |
| 1013 | Goldstein | City Budget Deal OKs Reprogramming to DC Gen'l--$90M can be shifted--if found by mayor, Council |
| 1014 | Editor | Children Still Need Help--Jones' resignation in foster care's best interests--new receiver must be named |
| 1014 | Goldstein | PBC Chooses New Chief--Michael Barch from GWU Hosp to lead transformation of poor's health care |
| 1019 | Chan | Study Yields Mixed News on DC Kids--poverty rate still high, but welfare cases,deaths, arrests, down |
| 1019 | Chan (cont) | DC Kids Count Rpt says DC births down 35% since '90, 35% leave before K, HS grad rate down to 51% |
| 1022 | Wardwell Ltr | Must the Children Suffer?--DC's neglect of its most vulnerable citizens is positively criminal, immoral |
| 1024 | Horwitz/Higham | DC Regains Foster Care Control--child welfare gets new cabinet-level agency exempt from $cuts, layoffs! |
| 1027 | Woodlee | Group Homes Owe $6.8M--DC overpaid for retarded care--shirked collection to avoid losing rare homes |
| 1028 | Staff | New PBC Chief Faces Daunting Task--500 targeted for layoffs--make trauma cntr or ambulatory care?? |
| 1029 | Seeman ltr | Healthier Outlook for DC--opportunity for primary care for everyone; local clinics; mental health, outreach |
| 1029 | Seemanltr(cont) | DC Medicaid bill $800M for 137K people: kids, 70% over nat'l avg; adults,45%; elderly, 44%; disabled, 36% |
| 1029 | Editor | Getting a Grip on Group Homes--DC IG reports high turnover; crooked, unskilled wkrs;sloppy records etc. |
| NOVEMBER, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 1107 | Goldstein | Proposal May End Nurse Walkout at Wash Hosp Cntr--14%, 3-yr raise, less overtime, dayshift seniority |
| 1109 | Staff | Striking WashHospCntr Nurses OK Settlement--1200 to return to work after 7 wks: among highest paid |
| 1110 | Chan | Retardation Agency Official Quits after 5 mos, Lists DC Problems--poor commo, not enough staff/resources |
| 1111 | Salmon | VA program to Improve Child Care to go Statewide--higher pay, college scholarships for workers |
| 1116 | Staff | Child-Care Cntr to Open Downtown, set up by Marriott et al --$10-$200/wk for 114 kids based on income |
| 1118 | Editor | The Clock and DC General--time (and $!) is running out for PBC--gotta act now, disaster around corner |
| 1119 | Freeman ltr | PBC Board Member Says Closing DC General would have profound effect on rest of DC hospitals |
| 1120 | Tucker | DC Courts Speed Up Foster-Child Adoptions--using fed laws, 113 in '97 up to 330 in '99, 3200 remain |
| 1121 | Staff | St. Elizabeth's Hospital Care Lacking--Fed review finds below nat'l stds, threatens $80M fed funding |
| 1122 | Goldstein | Deal Would Open DC Gen'l to Bids--mayor, council, PBC, OK private takeover--unions plan court fight |
| 1125 | Editor | Bidding Away DC Gen'l--city's 'highwire act' + 11th hour decision to open to bids unfair to 'least among us' |
| 1126 | Graham ltr | DC Dep Mayor Says 'well out of gate' in fixing DC's chronic problems treating retarded/disabled |
| 1126 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Still Faces Obstacles--privatizing leaves tensions in unions, acitvitists, pvt hospitals, patients |
| 1126 | Lynch/Favola ltr | Arlington Waging War Against Warfare--gotta find positive alternatives to gangs for area youth |
| 1129 | Staff | Forum to Discuss DC Gen'l's Future--Council OKs privatization , but wants full service hospital at site! |
| 1129 | Chan | Lead's Toll on DC Kids--hundreds exposed yearly to lead poisoning: mayor wants tighter safety laws-- |
| DECEMBER, 2000 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 1129 | Sherwood | DC General--What Now? severe budget cut back unreal; privatization iffy, who'd take on homeless, etc.? |
| 1202 | Goldstein | Control Bd Prepares Hospital Takeover Plan--last resort would take over PBC, force cuts, privatize staff |
| 1203 | Sager (ltr) | DC Must Be Resuscitated--51,000 ER visits can't be ignored--gotta reform, get emergency relief from Hill; |
| 1205 | Editor | If Mayor, Council Default--dawdling by PBC on DC Gen'l, plus budget shortfall will bring Control Bd action |
| 1206 | Pierre | From Control Bd, a Forceful Warning--public threat re DC Gen'l impasse is change of style in new era |
| 1207 | Patner (Gaz) | Proposed MD Suburban Hospital Addition Debated--80K more sqft, 1100 parking spaces, helo pad, etc. |
| 1208 | Staff | Judge Praises Interim Mental Services Receiver--plan to divide agency into overseeing care, housing |
| 1210 | Goldstein | PBC Board Members Attack their CEO's plan for DC Gen'l--'urban health campus' not discussed with bd |
| 1210 | Barch ltr | DC Gen'l CEO: Only the Physical Plant is Ailing--patient care good, 5-yr cost to maintain more than new bldg |
| 1213 | Miller | Ex-DC Official Sentenced to 46 Mos on Ethics Charges--took $30K in benefits from contract for retarded |
| 1215 | Chan | DC Adults Work After Welfare Ends--but 2/3rd of remaining recipients read below 6th grade level! |
| 1216 | Staff | PBC Announces Additional Layoffs--total reaches 536 people: 2 community centers, 1 kid's clinic go |
| 1221 | Goldstein | Defections Hurt DC Hospital--Sibley lures doctors away from faltering Columbia Hospital for Women |
| 1223 | Goldstein | $5M Headed to Columbia Hospital--grant for outreach to bring better gyno/cancer screening to poor |
| 1225 | Staff | Audit Faults Mental Retardation Agency--'substantial deficiencies' found in MRDDA:$120K per 993 clients |
| 1230 | Chan | Social Service Restructuring Drafted In DC--split child/youth services from welfare, stamps, medicaid, etc. |
