Days after California officials announced that Southwest Healthcare System in Murrieta had received the state's first $100,000 fine for putting patients at risk of death or serious injury, federal regulators announced they plan to cut the hospital's Medicare funding June 1. State public health officials also said they had warned Southwest that the hospital's "license is in jeopardy due to ongoing systemic problems and a pattern of life-threatening lapses in care." The federal action comes after a surprise inspection in January found deficiencies at the hospital in nine areas required for Medicare participation, the Los Angeles Times reports.
