Articles written by Nikki Symington
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 116
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Borrego Health: A Brief History
The history and transitions of the Borrego Springs Clinic is tied and bound to the vision of Borrego’s founders. It’s a tale untold and sometimes confusing. There are gaps or perhaps inaccuracies in the history due to the lack of documentation, and much must be garnered from t... — Updated 1/24/2023
Borrego Objects
The Borrego Cares Group (BCG) has joined the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), and AB Staffing Solutions, in filing an objection with the Bankruptcy Court to Borreg... — Updated 1/20/2023
Water Emergency Declared
The Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which provides 55% of San Diego County’s imported water supply, declared a “Regional Drought Emergency,” on Dec. 14, 2022, calling for the entire region to further cut back water use as all imported water supplies are stressed by... — Updated 1/10/2023
Fire Prevention, Creating Defensible Spaces in Borrego
CalFire is coming to Borrego Springs to educate the community about the County’s Defensible Space laws; and waiving enforcement actions for the removal of combustible materials until July 1, 2023. The meetings will be held at the Borrego Library, Thursday, January 19, at 4... — Updated 1/6/2023
Can Caring Group Save Clinic?
With the bankruptcy filing, and now the proposed auction of the clinics, and all of Borrego Health’s assets, it’s very difficult to predict how one, lone, local clinic will fare. And, as an essential element of a vital and healthy home town, the fate of the Borrego Springs... — Updated 12/20/2022
Borrego Health Gets High Marks from the Patient Care Ombudsman
A Court report finds Borrego Health is delivering quality care at all of its clinics, despite its financial and legal challenges. The latest media release from Borrego Health’s spokesperson, Dan Kramer, proudly announces that Borrego Health’s Patient Care Ombudsman (PCO)... — Updated 12/2/2022
BH: Request to Auction Clinics
In what Borrego Health Board of Trustees is calling, “A proactive decision to protect continuity of care for at risk patients,” a media release dated Nov. 11, 2022, announced, “A formal process to explore options for transferring operations of Borrego Health clinics to a... — Updated 11/28/2022
New Private Well, Potential to Contaminate Public Water Sources
In the process of approving a new residential well in the northern end of the Borrego Springs’ aquifer, problems of increased pollution in a nearby Borrego Water District well, moved the Borrego Water District (BWD) and the Watermaster staff to require the owner install... — Updated 11/14/2022
With Whom Do We Share Our Water?
Are any of the plants and animals in our valley dependent upon the same groundwater we humans are? This is the question at the center of a $1M study created by a partnership of the Tubb Canyon Desert Conservancy (TCDC), the University of California, Irvine, and the San Diego... — Updated 11/4/2022
Supervisors Vote to Transfer BSFPD
Wearing hats as Directors of the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Jim Desmond’s request to dissolve the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD) and transfer it to the San Diego County Fire... — Updated 11/2/2022
Supervisor Desmond BS Revitalization Committee Updates
“From the very beginning of Jim Desmond’s term as the San Diego County District 5 Supervisor, he has focused on how Borrego Springs works as a small rural community with no local government. He started by bringing County staff members to meet with Borrego residents to... — Updated 11/2/2022
Soroptimist Reproduce Old Timers' Citrus Cookbook
When one of the members of the Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs came across an old copy of Citrus Delites she thought, "Wow, what a treasure. I wonder if we could reproduce this and offer it back to the community?" The... — Updated 10/21/2022
Judge Reinstates Medi-Cal Funding
Bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor told the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that it cannot permanently suspend Medi-Cal payments to Borrego Health, and advised Managed Healthcare Plan providers to halt any future transfers of Borrego Health patients to other clinics,... — Updated 10/18/2022
One Last Shot at Survival
From its meteoric rise to the “fastest growing, largest, and most expensive federally qualified Health Center (FQHC)” in only a few years; and after three years continuous reporting of alleged fraud and corruption, culminating in an ongoing FBI/ DOJ investigation, the Borrego... — Updated 10/12/2022
BCHF Timeline of Events
The Borrego Community Health Foundation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after receiving a notification from the California Health and Human Services that payments for Borrego Health Medi-Cal services will be suspended Sept. 29. Following is a timeline of events, predating the susp... — Updated 10/12/2022
Bankruptcy Facts, Contacts, Important Dates
To file credit claims, file legal representation, follow all motions, pleadings and other documents use the free access site of https://www.kccllc.net/BorregoHealth. Information may also be obtained for a fee at https://pacer.uscourts.gov, or the court’s website. Contact may... — Updated 10/4/2022
Rams Hill Scholarship Recipients
Rams Hill has announced another round of $1,000 scholarships to five Borrego Springs' students entering post high school education. The scholarships are given annually to students whose parents have worked for at least a season at... — Updated 9/29/2022
New Employment for BCHF Employees
The San Diego American Indian Health Center (SDAIHC) recently posted new members of their staff. What a surprise to learn they had hired Karen Hebets, wife and co-conspirator of Borrego Health’s criminal mastermind, Bruce Hebets, former CEO, now deceased. But that’s not all,... — Updated 9/27/2022
Bad News for BH, Worse News for Patients
On August 19, Borrego Health’s administrative offices, individual clinics, and others outside of the organization were notified by the State of California Health and Human Services Agency – Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that the state intends to reimpose its 100%... — Updated 9/19/2022
Resolution Passes
The Borrego Springs Fire Protection District Board (BSFPD) voted 3 – 2 to approve an Application Resolution to dissolve the District and consolidate with the county-wide, San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD), at a special meeting on August 25 to reconsider the... — Updated 9/7/2022
Resolution Fails to Pass
The Borrego Springs Fire Protection District Board (BSFPD) failed to pass the local Resolution of Application, which is the first step in opening negotiations with the County of San Diego and the process of dissolving the local Special District and joining the San Diego County... — Updated 8/23/2022
BCHF Finally Exposed
Borrego Community Health Foundation (Borrego Health) has admitted to fraudulent activities and criminal conspiracies within the organization; and filed a RICO, Racketeering lawsuit against 49 of the Foundation’s former board members, former CEO’s, officers, 15 contract... — Updated 8/19/2022
BCHF: Changing Image
Borrego Community Health Foundation (Borrego Health) has been very busy. And the Foundation’s Crisis Communications Team has been doing a good job of advising the media of Borrego Health’s activities. Maybe, it’s because they are tired of having their spin upstaged by the... — Updated 8/1/2022
BCHF: Raiding Healthcare Pays
Why is the Borrego Sun still writing about Borrego Health and its legal issues? Some readers may have lost interest, feel it doesn’t impact them and gone on with their lives. Others feel the Sun is beating a dead horse and should be supporting the local clinic in this difficult... — Updated 8/1/2022
Breaking News: Borrego Health Sues Itself
Borrego Health has finally admitted to fraudulent activities and criminal conspiracies within the organization; and has filed a RICO, Racketeering lawsuit against 50 of the Foundation’s former board members, officers, contract dentists, Premier Healthcare Management, many other... — Updated 8/1/2022
