2-1-1 an Easy Number to Remember -- Not an Easy Debate; The Healthcare Community Fights to Be Included in a Seemingly Urgent Evaluation.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2003

The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on item "Resolution T-16776 - Info Line of Los Angeles" in San Francisco at the CPUC October 16, 2003. "The resolution grants the application of Info line to use the 2-1-1 dialing code for Health and Human Services information and referral services in Los Angeles County."

Los Angeles is the first county in California to have access to the 2-1-1 abbreviated telephone number. The 2-1-1 telephone number will be used to help individuals find and access Health and Human services for themselves and loved ones. These health and human service referrals, the healthcare community argues, may be no less life threatening than the influx of calls 911 receives. The seconds that can be lost by offering the healthcare rights to a non-healthcare professional could mean the loss of human lives or other vital resources.

An alarming issue to the healthcare community is that they have not been involved in the debate until recently and that their lack of early participation has left them involuntarily absent from the debate.

Although they were not aware of the process at the CPUC since they don't usually follow CPUC proceedings, the healthcare community questions the process of granting the dialing code to Info Line. The debate over the 2-1-1 comprises many healthcare organizations:

-- California Nurses Association who represents 55,000 registered nurses in California voiced their concerns in a letter dated Oct 15, 2003. The letter written to Mr. William Ahern, Executive Director, California Public Utilities Commission, says: "This is to reaffirm the earlier concerns expressed by the California Nurses Association" about the CPUC decision to grant Info Line exclusive healthcare rights to the 2-1-1 dialing code.

-- California Healthcare Association, representing over 500 hospitals and health systems in the State of California, in a letter dated Oct 15, 2003 to William Ahern states "the California Healthcare Association supports a strong 211 system in California. We anticipate that a portion of the 211 calls for assistance will be health related. To best serve the callers who need expert health advice and consultation, we believe that the 211 system should be designed to utilize the best resources available." In support of a "letter of protest" filed by NexCare Collaborative, the letter then adds, "Coordination of the resources available would be of substantial benefit to all Californians" and that the CPUC should "take action to ensure that the best qualified organizations are given specific responsibilities in the implementation of the 211 system."

-- Private Essential Access Community Hospitals, representing hospitals that serve as the safety net providers "that care for extremely high volumes of Medi-Cal beneficiaries, low-income Medicare enrollees, and uninsured patients" in the State of California says in an Oct 15 letter to the CPUC, "We urge the CPUC to make certain that any organization providing 2-1-1 service demonstrates healthcare expertise prior to granting of the application."

-- California Medical Association, writing "on behalf of the 35,000 physicians that the CMA represents" in a letter dated Oct 14, 2003 to the CPUC says "because our members see first hand the many unnecessary visits to the ER every year, we know that there will be a great need for health care experts to be available on this phone system. While we believe Info Line to be fully capable of handling social service issues we believe that the Public Utilities commission should further examine the ability of this company to handle large number of sub-acute health related calls that will undoubtedly be received."

-- Letter dated Oct 15, 2003 to CPUC. California Psychiatric Association writes that we "understand that you have before you a proposal to approve a contract between Los Angeles County and an individual service provider that does not have a significant history of providing health care referrals. We are concerned that the approval of the contract with such a provider would be a disservice to the wider public, and in particular to citizens in emotional distress or in the throes of a mental illness." The letter then continues to say "lack of competency or experience with these types of referrals could prove to be very dangerous and we are concerned for the safety of citizens who might expect more than such a service provider could deliver."

-- Letter dated Oct 15, 2003 to CPUC from the President of the California Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians, writing on behalf of emergency room physicians in the State of California, says his organization "respectfully requests that on October 16 that the CPUC delay making a designation until the medical issues can be fully heard."

The Federal Communications Commission's ("FCC") mandate states that 2-1-1 services are to be provided for "(i)ndividuals facing serious threats to life, health, and mental well-being have urgent and critical human needs that are not addressed by dialing 911 for emergency assistance or 311 for non-emergency police assistance."

For more information or inquiries about 2-1-1 contact the California Public Utilities Commission 415-703-1487.