Tri-City Considers Closing Its Pediatric Unit
Tax Credit Could Help With Long-Term Health Costs
BY MARION WEBB
Senior Staff Writer
Rep. Susan A. Davis introduced legislation that would provide a $4,000 tax credit for people in need of long-term care and qualified care-givers.
The bill also has a provision to make long-term care insurance more affordable to buy, said Aaron Hunter, Davis’ press secretary.
Davis, a Democrat who represents San Diego’s 49th District, introduced the bill in the House of Representatives on March 19.
The Long Term Care Support and Incentive Act would offer a $4,000 tax credit for individuals with an annual income below $75,000, and $150,000 for couples.
The tax credit is reduced by $100 for every $1,000 of annual income beyond the threshold amounts.
“Long-term care costs have gotten out of control,” Hunter said.
“This legislation will alleviate some of the financial pain felt by individuals requiring assistance,” Davis said in a written statement.
Under the bill, seniors could deduct 75 percent of the cost of long-term care insurance premiums; people below age 65 could deduct 50 percent of the cost.
The law would protect consumers from inflationary costs, limit policyholders to one deductible during their lifetime and let consumers determine how to spend their benefits, Davis wrote.
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Tri-City May Close Pediatric Unit: Tri-City Medical Center said a mounting loss of revenue and declining use of beds may force it to shut its pediatric unit.
Joy Gorzeman, chief operating officer and chief nurse executive at Tri-City in Oceanside, said on average there are three patients in the 15-bed unit per day.
In the past fiscal year ended June 30, the unit was empty for 47 days and had one patient in 55 days, Gorzeman said.
“That’s not very efficient,” she added, considering two staff members are required by law to care for one pediatric patient.
Gorzeman said Tri-City has an agreement with Children’s Hospital and Healthcare System to provide pediatric outpatient and emergency care services.
Tri-City would continue to provide neonatal intensive-care and newborn nursery services even if the pediatric unit closes, Gorzeman said.
Gorzeman said many of the 41 pediatric doctors and 10 nurses on the medical staff want to see the unit stay open. But that may be difficult given that the department is projected to lose $910,000 this fiscal year, which is consistent with losses recorded for the previous three years, she said.
She said Tri-City’s administrative staff will discuss the possibility of a closure with the Medical Executive Committee, doctors who chair various departments, on March 25.
The final decision will be made by the seven-member Tri-City Healthcare District board of directors in April or May, Gorzeman said.
She said in the event that the unit should close, Tri-City would like to retain its pediatric nurses.
Children ages 14 years and older could still be admitted to Tri-City.
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