2 County Hospitals Reverse Decision Not to Treat Rape Victims

At least two Los Angeles County hospitals are reinstating rape treatment services, and many more that are now refusing the services are expected to soon follow suit, a spokesman for the Hospital Council of Southern California said Thursday.

The spokesman, David Langness, said his organization, which represents 221 health centers in Southern California, supports a 30-day reinstatement of rape treatment called for by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti of Los Angeles. Langness said he believes that within that time hospitals and local agencies will reach an agreement for fair reimbursement rates.

Northridge Hospital announced that it has reinstated rape treatment for the next 30 days. And a spokeswoman for Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance said it will soon start accepting the patients.

Turning Away Victims

More than 15 local hospitals began turning away rape victims after the state Senate approved regulations in July to make sexual abuse examinations more thorough, and consequently more expensive and time consuming.

The examination can cost as much as $450, and state law requires local law enforcement agencies to cover the expenses, although none in Los Angeles County actually do. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, pays $17 for an exam.

“The hospitals’ gestures of good will are certainly very positive. . . . I believe that an agreement with the hospitals will be reached quite soon, probably within the next 30 days,” said Bill Russell, an official in the Los Angeles Department of General Services who has been negotiating for the city.

Patrick Rawl, vice president of Queen of Angels, said his hospital has reconsidered a decision not to accept rape victims in order to stop the “snowball effect” created by the hospitals that are unable or unwilling to meet the new regulations.

“We don’t expect to make any money on rape victims, but we can’t continue to lose money,” Rawl said.

He added that his hospital, which never stopped treating the patients, has seen a 100% increase in sex-assault victims since other health centers began refusing treatment.