Seniors Speak Out on Patient Dumping

A new state law that passed last year mandates that hospitals hold a regional meeting with “key stakeholders” to discuss how to prevent patient dumping – but in San Francisco, a group of senior advocates for the homeless complain that stakeholders were not invited. At an August 23rd press conference at City Hall with Supervisor Tom Ammiano, advocates said the Northern California Hospital Council needs to do more to stop patient dumping – and comply with the letter and spirit of the law.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Dave Jones, AB 2745 requires hospitals to develop specific plans for how to deal with homeless patients after they get discharged. To develop this policy, the Hospital Council must call a regional planning meeting with stakeholders, which include – but are not limited to – “county board of supervisors, law enforcement, social service agencies, health care service providers, continuum of care coordinators, nonprofit service providers, and regional advocates for the homeless.”

In San Francisco, the Hospital Council and the Department of Public Health hastily called a meeting on August 14th – with very few community advocates informed, or invited, to attend. AB 2745 requires such a meeting be held before the end of the year. At the press conference, advocates read a statement from Assemblyman Jones’ office that expressed concern about how the law was being implemented.

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