PATIENTS PICKET HMO FOR DROPPING PHYSICIAN.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer About 35 patients of a Long Beach physician protested in front of Woodland Hills-based Health Net on Monday, criticizing the company's decision to stop providing insurance to his patients. The health maintenance organization recently decided to stop covering Dr. Barry Lew's patients, informing him that it was because of disciplinary action against him by the Medical Board of California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). , according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Lew. The board placed Lew on probation probation, method by which the punishment of a convicted offender is conditionally suspended. The offender must remain in the community and under the supervision of a probation officer, who is usually a court-appointed official. last year for improperly im·prop·er adj. 1. Not suited to circumstances or needs; unsuitable: improper shoes for a hike; improper medical treatment. 2. prescribing anabolic steroids Anabolic steroids A group of drugs derived from the male sex hormone testosterone, most commonly prescribed to promote growth or to help the body repair tissues weakened by severe illness or aging. Some anabolic steroids are given as appetite stimulants. to two patients, according to board documents. Lew said in an interview the prescriptions were justified, but he agreed with the disciplinary action to avoid lengthy and expensive litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. , and because he was allowed to continue practicing medicine. But the protesters said they didn't care about that - they just wanted to continue seeing the doctor they say has provided excellent care with a personal touch for many years. ``I've been seeing him over 10 years,'' said Stephanie Jones of Compton. ``He goes out of his way for his patients. I prefer to stay with him.'' Ron Yukelson, Health Net's vice president of public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most , defended the company's decision as being in the patients' best interests and said they have all been assigned as·sign tr.v. as·signed, as·sign·ing, as·signs 1. To set apart for a particular purpose; designate: assigned a day for the inspection. 2. to new doctors. ``We feel we've taken the course of action that's best for our members,'' Yukelson said. The protesters picketed for seven hours Monday in front of the company's headquarters and said they will come back every day until the situation is resolved. They carried signs that read ``Health Net is taking our free choice away'' and ``Health Net is unfair. We want Dr. Lew.'' Lew, who has filed suit against the company, has continued to see the patients without charging them during the dispute. About 1,300 of Lew's patients were covered by Health Net. Lew said in an interview that many of his patients have been confused by the company's decision and have had trouble obtaining emergency medical care and seeing specialists referred by him. He also noted that the health care providers he deals with for his other patients have continued to do business with him. Lew said that while he is looking into getting another insurance provider for the 1,300 patients, it is complicated because most of them are on Medi-Cal, the state-funded health care program for low-income patients. He is confident that he will not lose any patients as a result of the dispute. |
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