Neonatal Unit Not Out to Make Profit

I am writing in response to the article regarding the need for increased Medi-Cal beds for neonatal intensive care (“UCI Medical Center Cited for Overflow Nursery Unit,” Oct. 30).

As previously acknowledged in The Los Angeles Times, UCI Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit is a superb program, treating the sickest babies with the most advanced therapies, regardless of funding source. Since the Medi-Cal program does not cover the costs of providing care, the assertion in the article that we are retaining these infants for profit is mathematically impossible.

MARY A. PICCIONE, Executive Director, UCI Medical Center