High-profile troubles at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital are bringing the wrath of Congress down on CMS. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) has written a letter to CMS Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk demanding to know how CMS will make sure that the hospital meets Medicare standards in the future. The facility, formerly known as King-Drew, has faced scrutiny over alleged care lapses for some time now. In its prior incarnation as King-Drew, the hospital had lost its CMS accreditation entirely, winning it back only when it agreed to reorganize and scale back services. Now, that accreditation is on the rocks again [1], after the well-publicized death of 43-year-old Edith Rodriguez in its emergency department lobby. The hospital will announce a plan to address care deficiencies shortly. In the mean time, it has kicked out its chief medical officer [2] and begun screening its nurses to assure they have adequate skills.

To learn more about CMS scrutiny:
- read this Modern Healthcare article [3] (sub. req.)

Related Articles:
After death, LA hospital faces training demand. Report [4]
LA officials grapple with hospital death. Report [5]
Drew U. plans to close residency program. Report [6]
King/Drew patients may be scattered. Report [7]