I write to express my deepest concern over your suspension of Medicare payments for Partial Hospitalization Services (PHP) to Riverside

General Hospital (RGH), via your contractor, Health Integrity, LLC. It appears that, in suspending the Medicare payments, you in effect have jeopardized some of the most vulnerable patients whose access to Medicare is literally their lifeline. I am requesting that the suspension of PHP service payments and pre-payment review be deferred until the end of any and all pertinent investigations. I am respectfully asking that you review your decision because of the potential harm to patients and the existence of alternative remedies.

Marilyn Tavenner Acting Administrator/Chief Operating Officer CENTERS FOR MEDICATE AND MEDICAID SERVICES 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Room 314 G Humphrey Building Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Acting Administrator Tavenner:

June 18, 2012

As you may know, RGH is a community-based non-profit acute care facility that provides outpatient hospital care to the citizens of Harris County and Houston, Texas. Indeed RGH was the first to provide health care to African Americans in Houston, and was the first that allowed well-trained African American physicians to work and admit patients. This distinguished and honorable history renders RGH as a model of the type of institution which in the past operated under less-than-ideal conditions from its inception but has gone on to become a venerated medical facility. Unfortunately, the fraudulent acts of a former hospital Administrator, now incarcerated, have served to undermine and denigrate a stellar institution. Even if more harmful acts prove to be true, an entire institution should not be penalized by the acts of one person.

Again, I request that you reinstate the payments to RGH based on my reading of the good cause exceptions to suspension of Medicare payments of the Code of Federal Regulations. I am asking that you review your decision because of the potential harm to patients and the existence of alternative remedies.

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As a Member of Congress I am aggressively committed to the preservation of the integrity of the CMMS funds, as such, I am requesting that the suspension of PHP service payments and pre-payment review be deferred until the end of any and all pertinent investigations. Thank you for your attention and your cooperation to this matter.

Sheila Jackson Lee Member of Congress

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Very Truly Yours,

757500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 2124475007500