Local News in Brief : Clinics’ Insurance Extended 1 Month
Two clinics at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in Hollywood won a 30-day reprieve Friday when their insurance carrier, at the urging of Mayor Tom Bradley, extended their medical malpractice insurance policy for one month.
The clinics, which provide services to people infected with the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus, were shut down Tuesday after Lexington Insurance Co. of Boston said it would not renew the clinics’ insurance policy.
The clinics provide HIV antibody testing, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and evaluation and monitoring for people infected with HIV.
Torie Osborn, executive director of the center, said 310 patients had to be turned away between Tuesday and Friday.
“The tragedy here is that the insurance industry appears to be holding hostage vital medical services in the midst of a health crisis,” she said. Osborn said that while the clinics have received several other quotes for a permanent insurance coverage, the premiums cited were unaffordable.
City and county officials are working with the center to help secure permanent insurance, she said.
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