The dramatic debate in Washington, D.C. over the fate of national healthcare policy almost scuttled plans to bring comprehensive addiction treatment to Humboldt County. The July 18 vote by the Eureka City Council to allow City Manager Greg Sparks to negotiate a lease agreement for the property at 139 Y St. formerly known as the […]
Medical / Health
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Patient Dumping Case Settles Out of Court
The case of an elderly blind man who was left alone in a hotel room after being discharged from Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in October of 2016 was settled out of court this week. The conditions of the settlement are confidential. The case, brought on behalf of the decedent’s sister, Sherri Ann McKenna, accused […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
My Selfish Lens
On Monday the New York Times published an article on the Congressional Budget Office analysis of the Senate Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. “[T]he report said, premiums for older people would be much higher under the Senate bill than under current law. As an example, it said, for a typical […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Judge Denies Skilled Nursing Defendants’ Change of Venue Bid
Judge Timothy Cissna denied skilled nursing magnate Shlomo Rechnitz’s request for a change of venue in a wrongful death and elder abuse lawsuit following a short hearing today, rejecting claims that he couldn’t get a fair trial in Humboldt County. Cissna said the case should be tried locally because it involves a substantial personal injury […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Skilled Nursing Defendants File for Change of Venue
Shlomo Rechnitz can’t get a fair trial in Humboldt County. That’s the contention of the law firm representing the skilled nursing magnate, Lewis Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP, which recently filed a motion for a change of venue in one of the three wrongful death and elder abuse suits filed against Rechnitz and his company, […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Huffman, Humboldt Residents, Decry House Passage of ‘TrumpCare’
Shortly after H.R. 1628 passed by a narrow margin in the House of Representatives, Rep. Jared Huffman’s office fired off a press release denouncing the passage of “TrumpCare” as a “disaster.” The bill, which includes an amendment that may remove coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions, can still be altered significantly in the Senate. Huffman […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
EPD Offering Grant Money for Juvenile Drug Treatment
The Eureka Police Department is offering $20,000 in grant money to a local nonprofit or government entity with a proven track record of successfully combating juvenile drug addiction. The money comes from the $124,000 in asset seizure funds EPD received last year, $25,000 of which can be earmarked for community education. Chief Andrew Mills said […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Eureka Rehabilitation Accused of Dumping Patient
Local law firm Janssen Malloy LLC, which recently filed two complaints alleging patient neglect and abuse against local skilled nursing facilities, has added another case to its slate, accusing Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center of discharging a dependent adult into a hotel without proper medical care in October of 2016. The man, who was blind […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Claim Seeks $1.44M From County in Right-to-Die Case
Years before Dick Magney was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital suffering from a series of life-threatening conditions, he had spent time at a local nursing home while recovering from leg surgery. That experience left the former truck driver who for decades battled constant pain and chronic illness determined to never again find himself in the […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Large-Scale Drug Treatment Coming to the MAC?
At long last, a large-scale alcohol and drug treatment facility complete with medical detox services may be coming to Humboldt County. The Eureka City Council is slated tonight to receive a report on a proposal to add drug and alcohol treatment services to its Multiple Assistance Center, which currently serves as a homeless intake center […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Huffman Celebrates Failure of TrumpCare
Rep. Jared Huffman issued a press release this afternoon in response to the failure of Republicans to bring the so-called “TrumpCare” bill to a vote. President Donald Trump, who ran on a platform of repealing the Affordable Care Act, indicated today that he would consider drafting a new bill once the ACA “explodes.” The Republican […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center Fined $160,000 by State
Eureka Rehabilitation Center, one of the four skilled nursing facilities in Humboldt County owned by Brius Healthcare, was hit with eight fines yesterday at $20,000 each. The facility, which was visited by state inspectors in December, has been dogged by allegations of understaffing and improper patient care. It was one of three facilities slated for […]