The fight to keep Laguna Honda afloat continues. In a Thursday afternoon hearing, members of the Board of Supervisors listened to an update from the interim CEO of the troubled hospital, Roland Pickens, about the four-month closure and transfer plan put together by the hospital after the federal government earlier this year moved to curtail its Medicaid funding. The plan, originally meant to be completed in 18 months, was rejected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — which wanted a faster closure or transfer process, according to Pickens. In April, that federal department moved to revoke funding for the 780-bed hospital, citing myriad violations. To continue receiving some $20 million a month in the interim, Laguna Honda was mandated to devise a closure plan that involves transferring its patients — many of whom are elderly and frail. If Laguna Honda stays on track with the four-month plan, it may get an additional two months of funding, pushing the potential closure date to November. But patient advocates and family members have been pressing to stop transferring patients while the hospital works on its recertification.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.