Wounded Teacher’s Insurance Benefits

* While your coverage (Sept. 4) of teacher Alfredo Perez’s continuing remarkable recovery from the gunshot wound he suffered as the result of a stray bullet fired near Figueroa Street School was very encouraging in terms of his improving physical condition and his strong positive outlook, one or two misleading statements were included which could give rise to unwarranted concerns about how adequately his medical needs are being met by his employer, the Los Angeles Unified School District.

In the article, one of the doctors at King-Drew was quoted as saying that Perez returned to their public hospital for his recent cranioplasty because of “insufficient insurance benefits.” In actuality, the reason Perez returned to King-Drew is that he chose to do so. The procedure was authorized in advance by the district’s third-party claims administrator for workers’ compensation, and the hospital will be paid for its services by the district from its workers’ compensation fund.

The district has authorized all medical procedures and hospitalizations requested by Perez’s treating physician. He continues to be cared for in a rehabilitation facility in Long Beach, which was the family’s choice. In addition, we have completed modifications to the Perez family residence, which will enable Perez to go home on weekends, when his health permits.

Under its workers’ compensation program, the district has provided and will continue to provide all medical treatment needed to assure that Perez makes as full a recovery from this injury as possible. Perez is on a special act-of-violence leave of absence from the school district, and continues to receive his full salary. His district-paid health benefits are also in full force and effect.

We continue to wish Perez a full recovery and the district continues to fund his medical needs.

KAREN W. HEMINGWAY

Branch Director, Contract

and Insurance Services, LAUSD