| MARCH, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 305 | Staff | Norton Seeks Increase in Community Hospital Funds--claims $23M ceiling and error--wants $49M |
| 311 | Montgomery | Fitting Hospital to Community--Foggy Bottom neighbors dislike GWU expansion plan onto parking lot |
| 314 | Goldstein(cont) | DC Medicaid Director Offner says spending dropped from $872 in '97, $852M in '98, below $844 in '99 |
| 314 | Goldstein | DC Health Plan Would Give Medicaid to 48K Uninsured--leave only 15K (3%) out--$s to come from PBC |
| 314 | Boo(cont) | DC Ignored 'Deplorable' Conditions--350 cases of abuse/neglect in 7 yrs by scurrilous contractors |
| 314 | Boo | Residents Languish, Profiteers Milk a Lax System--while deaths, abuse of retarded go unexamined |
| 314 | Boo | Troubled System for DC Retarded--Forest Haven Gone, but Agony Remains--group homes exploit/abuse |
| 315 | Strauss | Special Ed Woes Persist in DC--little progress made though $170M of $575M to be spent on 8000 kids |
| 316 | Boo | Changes Demanded in Group Homes--city officials acknowledge real problems protecting retarded |
| 317 | Staff | Council member Orange introduces bill to prevent violent offenders from placement in halfway houses |
| 317 | Editor | The DC Group Home Debacle--problem has persisted for years--weakest suffer, taxpayers pay |
| 318 | Boo/Cottman | DC Evacuates Two Homes for Retarded by mayor's orders--city had ignored perilous conditions |
| 324 | Vise | Computer Ills Put Patients at Risk--aging systems, budget cuts blamed for problems at DC General |
| 325 | Saulney | From City to Cabin in the Woods--program takes DC kids camping in a world far from home, experience |
| 325 | Loose | $6.6M DC Welfare-to-Work Contract Probed by IG: did top DC official collude with company w/o knowhow |
| 328 | Staff | DC Project Tries to Find Homes for Abandoned Babies--DC rate 3rd highest in US, behind NY, Chicago |
| APRIL, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| | |
| 401 | Slevin | For 65K DC Drug Addicts, More Help Coming--100K+ low income residents to get Medicaid abuse treatment |
| 401 | Slevin(Cont) | DC Drug Addiction Program for FY99 up to $22.8M--1062 addicts still awaiting methadone treatment |
| 401 | Editor | Homeless Initiative Sunset--5 yr, $30.4M ($20M, HUD) program failed: 400 families still await shelter |
| 402 | Williams | Williams Defends Health Care Proposal to Wary Panel--lower DC Gen'l subsidy $22M, insure 39K more |
| 403 | Horwitz | Group Home Shake-up Continues--DC to remove head of MRDDA for abuse and neglect of 350 retarded |
| 405 | Moreno | Together, but No Place for 23 Families to Go--DC's Winter Shelter (DC Village) Closing 4/31 |
| 409 | Horwitz | 2000 Human Services Workers Must Reapply for Own (changing) Jobs--shakeup may serve as model-- |
| 411 | Editor | Shake-up at DC Human Services--changed missions justify new job descriptions/applications |
| 413 | Vobedja | Revamping of Foster Care Brings Surge in Adoptions Nationwide--up 53% in DC, rushed decisions feared |
| 413 | Loose | DC Human Services Officials Fired--Barry appointees Dep Director and Welfare Office Chief given 15 days |
| 415 | Miller | US Marshals Service to Pay DC $13M in back costs of 50 patients at St. E's ($6.5M frmSecret Service next?) |
| 417 | Horwitz | Study Finds Drug Abuse at Heart of City's Ills--costs city $1.2B yearly (?) Mayor promises more remedial $ |
| 417 | Horwitz(cont) | Parental Drug/Alcohol use involved in 85% of DC child protection cases, 75% of foster care cases |
| 424 | Goldstein | Wrong Hip Replaced at DC Hospital--25K operations per year--no similar mistakes in 100K prior opns |
| 425 | Staff | DC Teen Births Down 31% since 1991--all big cities drop: biggest in blacker cities, DC, Detroit, St.Louis |
| MAY, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 507 | Miller | Big Contractor for Retarded Accused of Cheating DC--may have put $1.6M to personal home uses |
| 511 | Goldstein | Williams Shrinks Medicaid Extension Proposal from 39K to 2.5K--hospitals can't survive payment cuts |
| 514 | Goldstein | DC Medicaid Deficit of $31.6M Predicted by Director Offner--Councilmember Allen claims bad estimating |
| 515 | Editor | Sandy Allen's Medicaid Deficit--used Council chair clout to divert DC $9.5M, thus losing $22M fed match |
| 516 | Goldstein | DC Helps Grtr SE Hospital Meet Payroll--2200 jobs for 320 bed, 40K emerg, 11K inpat load: $68M loss |
| 518 | Editor | Wealth and Health--Council put tax cuts ahead of kids at risk--lousy DC stats still nation's worst |
| 520 | Slevin | Bank Claims Grtr SE Hospital's $2.6M Medicaid Checks for $!0.6M debt--were cashed to meet payroll |
| 520 | Goldstein | 3 on DC Council Want Medicaid Chief Offner Ousted--concocted projected shortfall? wants to close DC Gen'l? |
| 520 | Loose | 3 Disabled Residents Evicted from DC Group Home by US Marshals--dispute with DCFamServ Corp |
| 520 | Staff | Zoning Board Approves Contested $96M, 371-bed, 400Ksqft , 6-story GWU Hospital Site across 23rd StNW |
| 521 | Slevin | Embattled Hospital Gets 12-day Reprieve--Judge Barnes says patients' interests outweight debt to bank |
| 522 | Staff | New Task Force Meets First Time re future of GrtrSE Hospital--bankruptcy?, $25M loans?, Reorganize? |
| 525 | Editor | Hospital Countdown--clock ticking--need long-term options for serving poor, mainly in SE--avoid shutdown |
| 527 | Vise | Task Force to Probe DC Medicaid--new IG Maddox received six reports of alleged fraud of 10s of M$ |
| 527 | Havemann | Most US Adults Find Jobs After Leaving Welfare--65-85% get some jobs,earn $9500/yr on 32 hrs/wk |
| 528 | Goldstein | City Bailout Salves Grtr SE Hosp--files for bankruptcy, gets $8.5M credit--too few patients, too big staff |
| JUNE, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 605 | Goldstein | DC Seeks Balance in Health Care--Mayor to begin talks to reshape system, match needs, resources |
| 607 | S. Allen | Council Giving Health Care a Shot in the Arm--found mayor's proposalpremature--added $ elsewhere |
| 607 | Hilzenrath | Nursing Homes Shun (High-Cost) Medicare Patients--due to restrictive new payment system to control costs |
| 607 | Lengel | Complaints of Abuse Drop at St. Elizabeth's--Receiver works to improve treatment,less restraints, etc. |
| 608 | Editor | Misshapen Health Care System--mayor's plan key--status quo makes taxpayers, uninsured patients losers |
| 617 | Goldstein | 3 Hospitals in DC Ponder Consolidated Opns--Howard U, DC Gen'l, SE Community--work to reduce beds |
| 618 | Goldstein | DC Mothers' Childbirth Deaths (22.8/100K) Still High--black avg (19.6) shows racial disparity: DC worse (25.7) |
| 619 | Staff | City's Emergency Medical Services Director Leaving--admits too fewvehicles/personnel--higher pay |
| 620 | ChapmanOpEd | Too Many Beds, Too Few Patients--new commission should consolidate services, cut beds, close hospitals |
| 620 | OffnerOpEd | Hard Medicaid Choices Ahead--HMO, hosp. rates up, coverage up. +1.5% budget means service cuts |
| 624 | Editor | Rich (too many) Resources, Poor Health (stats)--Mayor right to reshape city's health care system |
| 629 | Goldstein | DC's 7 Medicaid HMOs Cut Hospital Use--334 hospital-days/1000 recipients in '98 vs 670 in '96 w/o HMOs |
| 629 | Goldstein(cont) | DC Hospital Assn says Medicaid underestimates cuts in hospital use: 72.6K out of 125K now HMO-covered |
| JULY, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 701 | Editor | How to Spread HIV in DC--accept senate floor amendment to ban DC's needle-exchange program |
| 701 | Horwitz | DC Doesn't Meet '97 Adoption Law--Foster Care Agency may face cuts in federal funding for 3225 kids |
| 707 | Gambrell(Gazz) | Montgomery Cnty Health Good but Blacks Still Lag--much higher AIDS, diabetes, infant mortality rates |
| 708 | Goldstein | Unfilled DC Positions Cause Frustration: choice to run 'drifting' DC Health Dept backs out at last minute |
| 710 | Staff | Council Approves Foster Care Changes to Comply w/ Fed rules re victim placement, avoid losing $Fed |
| 711 | Staff | DC to Spend $32M over 5 yrs to Update Child-support System issuing 5000 checks/wk (=$40M/yr) |
| 712 | Goldstein | DC Gen'l Struggles w/Heat Wave--aging hospital eqpt old problem--Council denied maint $ for 10 yrs |
| 717 | Mobley | MD Welfare Rolls Decline 61% in state w/20.7M pop'n--from 172,840 to 68,750--about half of DC's |
| 724 | Goldstein | Impasse over DC's Uninsured--mistrust between city, its hospitals blocking talks about reducing waste |
| 624 | Wheeler | An End to Demolition by Neglect--Williams pushes crackdown on neglect of historic sites--DCRA to police |
| AUGUST, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| | | | |
| 805 | Goldstein | Management Change Set for SE Hospital--control goes to 'turnaround specialists' who run 230 hospitals |
| 811 | Loose | Disputes Snarl $52M DC Welfare-to-work Plan for 13K recipients--city revokes contract of firm--did little |
| 814 | Staff | Past-Due Foster Care Bills to be paid for some 3000 kids' care--mayor, receiver have been bickering |
| 816 | Goldstein | Williams Considers Listing HIV Names--opponents prefer database with 'unique identifier' (UI) numbers |
| 819 | Staff | Williams Eyes Possible Health Chief--Ivan Walks to become acting head on Sept 13--Council must OK |
| 821 | Horwitz | DCWon't List HIV Patients by Name--mayor accepts UI's to assure confidentiality, encourage testing |
| 826 | Shear | Underused Pentagon City, Va, Hospital to Close as Joint Venture Fails--300 in staff serve 40 patients a day |
| 831 | Pan | DC Mental Health Agency Assailed by Latino Protesters--longstanding contract cancelled--not low bidder |
| SEPTEMBER, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 912 | Chan/Harris | Better Morgue, Bitter Staff--who criticize Arden who says he's sick, tired of 'mystifying culture of dysfunction' |
| 913 | Goldstein | New Health Agency Chief Confronts Multiple Ills--Ivan Walks designed new system for DC's 3200 foster kids |
| 915 | Goldstein | Commission to Study Health Care Problems--caring for 80,000 uninsured residents, protect hospitals, etc. |
| 917 | Chan | Heath Care at Oak Hill Still Found Inadequate--report says youth center breaks court order |
| 928 | Cottman | DC Plans Children's Initiative--dozen DC agencies (!) to work together to improve kids' quality of life |
| OCTOBER, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 1001 | Goldstein | SE Hospital Needs More City Funds, Judge Says--286 beds/1000FTEs 'continues to hemorrhage money' |
| 1002 | King OpEd | Wanted: Responsible Fathers--mayor's 'Safe Passages' program no substitute for responsible fathers |
| 1003 | Staff | City Nears Deadline on Greater SE Community Hospital--$70M in debt despite city $8.5M bailout |
| 1004 | Goldstein | US Study Finds 1M w/o Health Coverage in '98--despite efforts to widen access, tot up to 44.3M (11M kids) |
| 1004 | Goldstein | SE Hospital Gets $24M Bailout Offer from Arizona Firm--but officials fear take-over, want to keep jobs |
| 1005 | Editor | D-Day for Greater SE Hospital--OK to take DC Health Care Commission advice, but gotta care for needy |
| 1005 | Goldstein | Williams Rejects SE Hospital Taxpayer Bailout--advises officials to sell to private firm or liquidate |
| 1008 | Goldstein | Hospital Promotes Its Healing Powers--DC General emphasizes non-trauma services in ad campaign |
| 1009 | Goldstein | DC Medicaid Director Offner Resigns after 4 years--had become 'radioactive' after battles w/PBC, Cncl |
| 1009 | Vogel | Soldiers' Home Retains Right to Stay Open--can sell 49 acres to high bidder--Catholic U gets 1st refusal |
| 1011 | Horwitz | Foster Parents Protest Lag in DC Day-Care Payments--100 parents threaten to give up kids if not paid |
| 1012 | Goldstein | Diagnosis: Denial--as Grtr SE Hospital faces closing, some await miracle cure--still expect DC bailout |
| 1014 | Goldstein | Creditors Give SE Hospital 2 More Weeks to Find Backing--as 'at least one' new private offer surfaces |
| 1015 | Horwitz | Duplicate Payments--or None: Foster Care Accounting (by rcvr) Criticized by CFO Holt, IG called in |
| 1016 | Horwitz | Foster Care Official Blames Computers--CFO Holt faulted for public critique of CFS agency problems |
| 1019 | Goldstein | Maryland Inspects Shady Grove Hospital--following medical staff complaints of overworked nurses |
| 1020 | Wilson | Help For 12K Working Poor--Montgomery Council OKs $176 tax credit--'just the beginning', more ahead |
| 1021 | Staff | Howard University Nurses Authorize Strike--(subsequent walk-out lasts one day, 3-yr raises agreed on) |
| 1022 | Horwitz | Foster Payments Still Lag--100 providers behind months and several millions--most live in PG County |
| 1026 | Goldstein | MD's Shady Grove Hospital Faces More Scrutiny--high nurse unrest threatens Medicare payments |
| 1028 | Staff | Creditors Give Greater SE Hospital yet Another Extension--still looking for best takeover deal |
| 1028 | Staff | DC Medicaid Program Director Selected--H H Weldon from GA to replace 'radioactive' Offner |
| 1028 | Cottman | New Study Urges Changes in DC Foster Care--new staff would push for adoptions, hiring more lawyers |
| 1029 | Horwitz | More Aid Sought for Mentally Ill--DC services to 9000 worsen under receiver, advocates tell judge |
| 1030 | Staff | DC Human Services Passes All-day Y2K Simulation exercises |
| NOVEMBER, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 1102 | Horwitz | Reforms Promised for Welfare Contracts--6000 families off welfare in 2.5 yrs, 13,000 elig. adults remain |
| 1103 | Staff | Notice of Sale of Greater SE Hospital Rescheduled--286 bed hospital $72M in debt: no sale? liquidate |
| 1104 | Goldstein | DC Doctor Quits, Cites Antiabortion Threats at downtown clinic--even though threats decline from '93 peak |
| 1104 | Goldstein | Buyer Backs Out , Won't Buy Grtr SE Hospital--qualms over price, eqpt inventory, fed overcharge suits |
| 1105 | Babington | Clinton, Hastert Plan National Initiative in Poor Areas--differences narrowing on other budget issues |
| 1105 | Goldstein | MD's Shady Grove Hospital Removes Two Top Officials--Board vows improved care, nursing |
| 1106 | Goldstein | Grtr SE Hospital's Creditors Demand Liquidation--closure delayed over weekend for negotiations |
| 1106 | Miller | Ex-Manager of Program for Retarded Indicted--DC official accused taking over $25K in gratuities |
| 1107 | Hilzenrath | Medicare HMO Costs to Rise in DC Area--recipients at 4 plans to pay more after Jan 1, 2000 |
| 1109 | Goldstein | Arizona Firm Offers Grtr SE Hospital $21M--creditors say deal 'riddled with loopholes': 1100 jobs at stake |
| 1110 | Goldstein | Prince George's County Nursing Home Facing Loss of Funding--Medicare cut off for poor patient care |
| 1112 | Vogel | DC Shelter Honors Its Own--survey shows number of homeless vets on the rise: 1/3 homeless are vets |
| 1113 | Editor | Between the Cracks--more kids uninsured as parents come off welfare, lose Medicaid--deserve fed $'s |
| 1114 | Goldstein | Grtr SE Hosp Sold--Judge OKs Arizona Grp's $22M bid, creditors eat $48M:liquid't'n worse; 2mos to set |
| 1115 | Woodlee | Audit Faults Finances For DC Foster Care--group home given double/triple payments, too many kids |
| 1116 | Goldstein | MD Hospital Facing Loss of Accreditation--agency criticizes care at Shady Grove; 263 beds/1300 staff |
| 1117 | Goldstein | MD Cites Mistakes at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital -- report suggests state takeover after rating dropped |
| 1118 | Editor | Bill that Ought to Pass--retaining Medicare/caid for ex-welfarers stuck in 'record incompetent' Congress |
| 1119 | Editor | The Next DC Health Care Issue--after Grtr SE Hosp, DC leaders must revamp costly/ineffficient system |
| 1121 | Lengel | New Hospitals to Replace St. Elizabeths--80 bldgs shrink to 8, 320 beds tot; use of 326-acres 'unclear' |
| 1121 | LtrstoEds | We Saved Our Hospital but Its Future Cloudy--Arizona firm runs another in Wd 8--big changes possible |
| 1122 | Editor | MD's Duty to the Poor--seize chance to expand state aid to kids in poverty: 1in8 in MD, 1in3 in Baltimore |
| 1128 | LtrstoEds | DC's Dismal Record Helping Helpless--receivers haven't helped mental health, homeless, foster kids |
| DECEMBER, 1999 | HUMAN SERVICES |
|---|
| 1201 | Goldstein | MD's Shady Grove Hospital Gave Out Big Raises--top pay well over $300K--top severance pay $3-4M for 2 |
| 1205 | Boo | Invisible Deaths, Fatal Neglect of DC Retarded--116 or more died questionably since '93 in group houses |
| 1205 | Horwitz | Employment After Welfare Lags in DC--only 1559 have found work of 6000 off welfare; 18K at risk by '02 |
| 1205 | Gray OpEd | Bill of Rights for DC Kids: 3200 in foster care; 58% no father present; 16-25% teen preg; 50% drop-out, etc. |
| 1206 | Goldstein | DC Vows Review of Deaths in Group Homes--care of retarded to face new interagency oversight panel |
| 1207 | Editor | Dept of Inhuman Services--stop shielding those who mistreated retarded--get city's good name back |
| 1207 | Cottman | City to Investigate Deaths--Williams promises accountability on group homes for retarded |
| 1208 | Goldstein | Leaders Defend Shady Grove Hospital--errors exaggerated, officials tell Montgomery Council members |
| 1208 | Horwitz | DC Mental Health Chief Considers Furloughs, delayed raises--lacks $6.3M in funds to pay 2100 workers |
| 1209 | Staff | Mayor Offers New Plan to Foster Adoption--of 3334 foster home kids--3.5 yr stay is 2x national average |
| 1209 | Boo | DC Official Suspended in Probe of Group Homes for Retarded--death records apparently shredded |
| 1209 | Goldstein | DC Weighs Options on Health Care for 80K Poor--tax credits to insurers? PBC cries foul if subsidy lost |
| 1209 | Allen OpEd | Life Support for Ailing Hospitals--reviews DC help, but problems not over for fragile DC hospitals |
| 1217 | Loose | DC Prenatal Care Worst of 50 Cities despite Medicaid--64% unwed,16% teens, 18% prem;13% under wt |
| 1219 | Goldstein | Whitman-Walker Clinic for HIV/AIDS Tries to Recover from Troubles--new director ousted after 4 mos |
| 1222 | Editor | Group Home Deaths: Week 3--DepMayor Graham not sure 'system broken' when will accountability come? |
