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Support Los Angeles Jewish Health During the High Holidays

Did you know that 75% of the seniors served by Los Angeles Jewish Health rely on government assistance? Meeting their needs is a considerable challenge. Donor and community support is what makes it possible and what makes life at Los Angeles Jewish Health so special.
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Legacy Planning

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Comedy and Camaraderie at Los Angeles Jewish Health

Michael Preminger is always quick to find the joke. It's a quality the veteran stand-up comedian, who has been performing on some of the nation's most prestigious stages for decades, brings with him as a dedicated volunteer at Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH). "The residents at Los Angeles Jewish Health are hilarious and such a joy to be around," Michael says. "When I first started volunteering, I asked a lady named Edna, who was 104, whether she would ever consider dating younger men. Without missing a beat, she looked at me and said, 'Are there any other kind?'" That camaraderie and humor have been bringing Michael back to LAJHealth as a volunteer for more than 10 years. Career success was professionally satisfying (his many television appearances have included The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dinah Shore Show, and more. He also co-wrote the critical and commercial hit Nothing in Common starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason), but it is his weekly visits to LAJHealth that give him rich personal rewards. "I've learned so much from the residents and have gained a lot of wisdom. I remember one woman named Rita who would say in Yiddish, 'Vos geven iz geven'—essentially, 'What was, was.' I think it's a very profound way of looking at the world, essentially acknowledging that we can't recapture the past, we can only look ahead," Michael says. One of the things he loves most about volunteering at LAJHealth is hearing residents' stories. "One person told me she went dancing with the Dodgers when they were still in Brooklyn!" he exclaims. "These folks have done such incredible things, and through their stories, I feel I've been all over with them, from Brooklyn to Buenos Aires." Michael himself has New York roots: Born in the Bronx, he headed to Los Angeles in 1975 to pursue his passion for showbusiness. He raised a son and a daughter while climbing the rungs of comedy stardom. Now a grandfather, his touring days have slowed down, and he is able to enjoy other pursuits like giving back to Los Angeles Jewish Health. "I mainly do trivia with the residents, quizzing them on old movies, TV shows, and music," he says. "Some of them really know their stuff, and the questions lead to super interesting conversations about their lives." As a veteran of the entertainment industry, Michael would like to see more of his colleagues doing their part to uplift older adults at LAJHealth. "Especially in this town, where you have thousands of actors and comedians just sitting around all day waiting for their agents to call, I'm astounded by how few people make it a priority to volunteer," he muses. "They have the time; they should come join us!" Michael arrives at LAJHealth every Tuesday and Thursday like clockwork, and he says it's consistently the highlight of his week. "Volunteering here is one of the best things I've ever done in my life; it's so fulfilling, and I get such a high from it," he says. "The hours between Tuesday and Thursday always feel too long—I just can't wait to come back!" Los Angeles Jewish Health is currently recruiting volunteers of all ages (18 and up) – from individual adults to school groups and synagogue youth groups. Contact Stacy Orbach, director of volunteer services, for more information: (818) 774-3219 or [email protected].
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At Los Angeles Jewish Health, High Holy Days Bring Blessing of Community

Los Angeles Jewish Health residents always approach the High Holy Days with a sense of deep appreciation for having reached the start of another New Year. This year, our seniors have found even more reason to be grateful: the loosening of COVID restrictions to allow residents to celebrate the holidays with their loved ones. "It's hard to put into words how exciting it is that, this year during the High Holy Days, we've finally been able to invite a small number of family members back onto our campuses," says Rabbi Karen Bender, Los Angeles Jewish Health's chief mission officer. "Over the past several years, in order to keep residents as safe as possible, we were mandated to hold off on inviting visitors to campus, so these High Holy Days have really signaled a dramatic, welcome change." Rabbi Bender says services have been packed and that events leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were equally well attended. "We held an apple and honey tasting across multiple campuses, which was really wonderful," she says. "Taste and smell are two of the most powerful ways to conjure up memories that can engage our residents and inspire them to share their thoughts, feelings and life experiences." According to Rabbi Bender, the apples and honey gatherings were significant for another reason, as well. "I like to point out to our residents that we don't hand people apples already dipped in honey; we give them the apples, and they dip them on their own," she says. "It's a symbol that every individual has the ability to influence the sweetness in his or her own life. We're more empowered than we think, and I believe that's a critical message for our incredible population of seniors." The run-up to the holidays also included a special mitzvah project: Residents gathered together to assemble fully-stocked backpacks for students in need. Sponsored by generous Los Angeles Jewish Health donor Bill Prady, co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning television sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," the project allowed residents to partner with School on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that fields approximately 4,000 requests each year for backpacks from students experiencing homelessness. Los Angeles Jewish Health participants worked a fun assembly line-style to fill the backpacks with school supplies such as paper, pencils and folders, as well as special items such as puzzles, books and science kits. "Jewish tradition teaches that we are inscribed in the Book of Life at Rosh Hashanah, and that the book is sealed at Yom Kippur," Rabbi Bender says. "One of our goals with the backpack project was to fulfill the commandment of the High Holy Days machzor (prayer book), which encourages us to focus these Days of Awe on tefilah (prayer), tzedakah (charity) and t'shuvah (repentance). This project enabled seniors to perform an act of tzedakah, and they were so happy to be a part of it." Their enthusiasm, Rabbi Bender notes, was beautiful to see. "A significant percentage of our residents are recipients of other people's good deeds, whether it's our donors, our volunteers or members of the larger community. It's challenging for them to find opportunities to give back and make a difference the way they used to, when they were more independent," she says. "Through this project, they were able to realize they can still do things to help other people. It was truly thrilling to watch and was easily one of the most moving things I've done in my time here." As they were filling backpacks, dipping apples in honey and singing at in-person holiday services, our residents enjoyed the benefits of built-in community that living at Los Angeles Jewish Health makes possible. "How many people in their 90s get to be with their peers at holiday time?" Rabbi Bender asks. "Not many, which is why our events this year have been so meaningful. It's such a blessing and a privilege to belong to this community."
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Los Angeles Jewish Health A Leader in Telehealth for Seniors

Identifying impactful ways to optimize the well-being of older adults is a central focus of our work at Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth). We are constantly seeking innovative approaches to raising the bar on clinical care, and our telehealth program is a case in point, leveraging leading-edge technology to ensure our seniors can thrive. Launched with funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which selected LAJHealth as the lead grantee in California to pilot a telehealth program, our organization's initiative deploys state-of-the-art mobile carts—each equipped with a tablet computer, digital stethoscope and otoscope, a camera, speaker/microphone system and WIFI— throughout Los Angeles Jewish Health campuses, enabling physicians to care for patients, from a distance, in an individualized and caring way. Whether for routine visits or to assess changes in medical condition, telehealth appointments offer patients, families and physicians a wide range of critical advantages. "In any discussion of the telehealth program, it's first important to stress that this is not just doctors seeing residents over Zoom or FaceTime," notes Noah Marco, MD, chief medical officer with Los Angeles Jewish Health. "These are highly sophisticated, patient-centered encounters through which we are actually able to hear and evaluate heart and lung sounds, look inside patients' ears and mouths, and see their tiniest skin lesions." "Our experience has been that, once patients and their loved ones become comfortable with the technology involved, the benefits of telehealth are immediately apparent to them," he says. Patient convenience is one of the major benefits. "For many of our residents, travel to and from physicians' offices can be challenging at best, causing them to disrupt their routines to do what's convenient for their doctor," Dr. Marco says. "Telehealth alleviates this burden, allowing them to check in with their doctors and share any concerns from the comfort of their own rooms." Anton Domingo, a registered nurse and LAJ Health's telehealth program manager and quality analyst, says the telehealth consults are particularly helpful when a resident is experiencing a change in condition. "In more urgent situations, when we need to determine whether a resident may need to be transferred to the hospital, a telehealth appointment gets the doctors' eyes on the patient almost immediately, allowing the provider to see the patient and correlate the data provided with the patient's status in real time," Anton says. "This translates to better, more informed decision-making about the necessity of hospital transfers, which ultimately means less strain on—and less cost for—our residents." In fact, according to data gathered by LAJHealth as part of this pilot program, telehealth visits lessened the need for nearly 20 percent of transfers to acute care facilities. The pandemic has further highlighted the wisdom of including telehealth options in patient care. "For instance, say a patient needs to be in isolated care due to a transmittable disease, we can dedicate a telehealth cart to that area, making sure the resident has easy and timely access to the provider he or she needs for their care," Anton says. The telehealth program also lets residents' families play a more active role as a member of their comprehensive care team. "When the patient, the provider and a family member come together, we get more and better information, and the quality of the care inevitably improves," Dr. Marco says. "Family members really benefit from hearing from their loved ones' physicians directly because it puts everyone on the same page and ensures we answer everybody's questions in a comprehensive way." Erit Siegal and her mother Katherina Schaffer That was the case for Erit Siegal, whose mother, 97-year-old Los Angeles Jewish Health resident Katherina Schaffer, signed up to participate in the telehealth program. "My mom, who is originally from Czechoslovakia and survived three different concentration camps, is miraculously healthy and 100 percent cognitively fine. She's one tough cookie," Erit says. "She moved to LAJHealth about a year ago. When she needed some routine care, she saw Dr. Marco via telehealth, and I was on the call, as well." "It was a good experience," she continues. "Dr. Marco asked questions, my mom answered, and I was there, watching and listening the whole time. It was super convenient, especially during COVID, because we got the attention we needed while minimizing interruption to my mom's day and limiting the exposure she (and other residents) would have had if I had needed to come to campus for the appointment." LAJHealth currently has 25 telehealth carts; 12 of them are deployed across four different facilities, resulting in more than 40 virtual visits so far this year. It's a promising start, and plans are for the program to expand. That expansion – and the program itself—are the result of generous support not just from the FCC, but also from numerous individuals and foundations. "We've seen telehealth add real value for so many of our residents, and we look forward to making the program even more accessible going forward," Dr. Marco says. "At Los Angeles Jewish Health, we work to give each of our seniors every health advantage possible."
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So Very Much to Be Grateful For This Season

Andrew Berman, Chair, and Dale Surowitz, President & CEO As we enter the month of November, known for giving and giving thanks, we would like to take this opportunity to reach out and share our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all of the support provided to the seniors of Los Angeles Jewish Health. Once again, your donations, coupled with the outstanding work of our Los Angeles Jewish Health teams, meant our High Holidays were moving and meaningful for all who participated. Our outstanding rabbinical leaders were joined by dozens of additional staff from across departments including Dietary, Housekeeping, Activities, Information Systems, Maintenance and many others, who came together to produce special events and programming that resonated with all who participated. We are also grateful that, this year, we were able to open our campuses to a modest number of family members to join with their loved ones in person for services, even as we continued to follow all ongoing health regulations still in place due to COVID-19. May next year bring even bigger services, gatherings and celebrations! For everyone who has supported the work of Los Angeles Jewish Health this year, as we care for nearly 4,000 older adults, nearly 80% of whom are at or near national poverty levels, you have our collective thanks and deep appreciation. With the coming of Giving Tuesday on November 29, and as you make your year-end gifts; please consider contributing to Los Angeles Jewish Health. As our senior population continues to grow exponentially now and into the future, we are proud and privileged to be available to serve them. Without your support, we could not provide these outstanding services and programs or the award-winning care our seniors so richly deserve. Warmest regards and best wishes for the holiday season. Andrew Berman Dale Surowitz Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer & President
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Compliance

Open Payments Database The Open Payments database is a federal tool used to search payments made by drug and device companies to physicians and teaching hospitals. It can be found at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.RCFE Regulations in CaliforniaResidential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) in California, which encompass Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), are highly regulated with a robust body of laws and regulations designed to promote resident independence and self-direction to the greatest extent possible in a residential, nonmedical setting. The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) and Continuing Care Contracts Branch enforces these laws and regulations through the initial licensing process and periodic inspections.RCFEs are regulated by the California Code of Regulations Title 22 , Division 6, Chapter 8. In addition, the RCFE Act establishes additional statutory requirements in many of the same areas as Title 22, and the Evaluator Manual is used for the application and enforcement of laws, policies, and procedures. Additional rules governing Continuing Care Retirement Communities are found in the Health and Safety Code and in the Evaluator Manual for RCFEs with Continuing Care.There are also new laws which are not yet reflected in the regulations. Although the state has fallen behind in updating the regulations to reflect these new laws, the statutory requirements are in effect and being enforced throughout the state. TERMS OF USEWelcome to our website for Los Angeles Jewish Health (“LAJH”). We offer this site to help residents and prospective residents and their families make decisions regarding senior living and senior care. We have established a few ground rules to help make this site helpful and safe for all our visitors. 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However, we reserve the right to remove comments and/or content on Los Angeles Jewish Health posts/pages that we identify as dangerous or inappropriate.Comments/content are subject to removal if identified as:Threatening, abusive or hatefulObscene or indecentDefamatory or libelousFalse, deceptive or misleadingCompromising the safety of Los Angeles Jewish Health staffExposing any patient informationContaining photos obtained without proper consentContaining copyrighted materialSpam, self-promoting or irrelevant in natureViolating policiesIn addition, we at Los Angeles Jewish Health reserve the right to restrict or block users who repeatedly post such comments/content. Our social media pages are a platform for positive, productive and insightful conversation. Thank you for your participation along with your cooperation.Nondiscrimination & Language AssistanceDiscrimination is Against the LawLos Angeles Jewish Health complies with the applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Los Angeles Jewish Health does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.Los Angeles Jewish Health:Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:Qualified sign language interpretersWritten information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:Qualified interpretersInformation written in other languagesIf you need these services, contact:Los Angeles Jewish Health7150 Tampa Ave.Reseda, CA 91335If you believe that Los Angeles Jewish Health has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance.You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office of Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509FHHH BuildingWashington, D.C. 202011-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. Ombudsman InformationCentralized Intake Phone number (Primary): 800-334-9473Local Long-term care ombudsman phone number (Secondary): 818-444-0315Ombudsman email: [email protected] web address: www.wiseandhealthyaging.orgResources for accessing additional information regarding resident care at the facility include the local long-term care ombudsman at 800-334-9473 (Centralized Intake Phone number) or 818-444-0315 (local phone number), by email at [email protected] and www.wiseandhealthyaging.org, CDPH's Licensing and Certification Program's website (cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/LandCProgramHome.aspx), the California Health Facility Information Database (Cal Health Find) page (cdph.ca.gov/programs/chcq/lcp/calhealthfind/Pages/Home.aspx), and the Cal Long Term Care Compare website (CalLongTermCareCompare.org).Reporting resident care complaints can be done using the local long term care ombudsman information above and through the CDPH complaint process (cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/LandCProgramHome.aspx). Community Needs Assessment Legal Name: Los Angeles Jewish Home for The AgingEIN #: 95-3510024
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Financial Assistance

Introduction Text Financial Assistance and Surprise Billing ProtectionsAs part of our mission at Los Angeles Jewish Health and The Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center (JEK) Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU), we are dedicated to providing access to quality healthcare for the community and treating all patients with respect, dignity, and consideration. In accordance with state law, this includes providing financial assistance to eligible patients who cannot afford to pay for care. We offer our patients a variety of options to meet their financial needs, even if they do not qualify for assistance.  Help Paying your Bill-JEK AGPU has many options to assist you with payment of your hospital bill. Options may include: Medi-Cal & Government Program Eligibility: You may be eligible for a government-sponsored health benefit program. Please contact the AGPU Program Director (818) 758-5045 if you would like additional information about government programs or need assistance with applying for such programs. Covered California: You may be eligible for health care coverage under Covered California, which is California’s health benefit exchange under the Affordable Care Act. Contact the AGPU Program Director (818) 758-5045 for more detail and assistance to see if you quality for health care coverage through Covered California. Payment Plans: Patient account balances are due upon receipt.   Patients may be eligible to make payment arrangements for their hospital bill.  The payment plan is negotiated between the Hospital and the patient, and a financial agreement must be signed before AGPU can accept payment arrangements that allow patients to pay their hospital bills over time. For questions, please call 818-758-5045. Discount Program and Charity Care Assistance Information-Summary of Financial Assistance (Charity Care): The AGPU is committed to providing financial assistance to patients who have no third-party source of payment, such as an insurance company or government program, or insured patients with high medical cost as defined by CA HSC 127400(g) for any portion of their medical expenses and who have a family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. The following is a summary of the application process for patients who wish to seek financial assistance. How to Apply-You may apply for financial assistance using the application form that is available from the AGPU Program Director by calling 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038. It is also available on the AGPU website (www.lajh.org). During the application process, you will be asked to provide information regarding the number of people in your family, your monthly income, and other information that will assist the hospital with determining your eligibility for financial assistance. You may be asked to provide a pay stub or tax records to assist AGPU with verifying your income. After you submit the application, the hospital will review the information and notify you in writing regarding your eligibility.  If you have any questions during the application process, you may contact the AGPU Program Director at (818) 758-5045. If you disagree with the hospital’s decision, you may submit a dispute claim to the AGPU Program Director. Copies of this Financial Assistance Policy, the Plain Language Summary and Application, as well as government program applications are available in English and Spanish in person at the AGPU Program Director’s office as well as at www.lajh.org and available by mail.  We can also send you a copy of the Financial Assistance Policy free of charge if you contact our AGPU Program Director at 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038.  In addition you can download from our website www.lajh.org Hospital Bill Complaint Program-The Hospital Bill Compliant Program is a state program that reviews hospital decisions about whether you qualify for help paying your hospital bill. If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the State of California’s Hospital Bill Complaint Program. Go to hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/ for more information and to file a complaint. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 96051.11Note: Authority cited: Section 127010, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 127410, Health and Safety Code.Help Paying Your Bill-  There are free consumer advocacy organizations that will help you understand the billing and payment process. You may call the Health Consumer Alliance at 888-804-3536 or go to healthconsumer.org for more information.  Protections for surprise medical bills- All patients are afforded protections against surprise medical bills. Visit CMS.gov/nosurprises, or call the Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 for more information. TTY users can call 1-800-985-3059. Please see the hospital’s website for copies of these policies, applications, standard charges and shoppable services at https://www.lajhealth.org/help-paying-your-bill  Access- This notice is also available in other languages, large print, braille, audio format. Please contact AGPU Program Director at 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038 for assistance.   JEK AGPU Financial Assistance PolicyJEKMC Debt Collection PolicyJEKMC AGPU Application for Financial Assistance Audio Transliteration for Deaf or Hard of HearingLegal Name: Los Angeles Jewish Home for The AgingEIN #: 95-3510024
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Help Paying Your Bill

Hospital PricingAs of January 1, 2021, CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) requires that hospitals post a list of their standard charges and a display of select shoppable services online.The Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatric Unit (JEKMC AGPU), located at Los Angeles Jewish Health, is committed to sharing and helping consumers better understand specific health care costs.The standard charge file includes both the standard (gross) charge, the negotiated rate for contracted payers, the cash pay rate—for consumers without insurance coverage, and the minimum and maximum negotiated rates across payers.JEKMC-AGPU Standard ChargesThe shoppable services display includes CMS-identified select items and services. In total, CMS requires hospitals to display a total of 300 shoppable services. However, given JEKMC-AGPU’s niche services and care delivery model, the number of shoppable services is limited.JEKMC-AGPU Shoppable ServicesThe standard charge list is strictly related to the charge for a service. It does not include fees for Professional Services (ex. Psychiatrists, Psychologists, other Professional Providers). Hospitals are typically paid based on contracted rates for the services they provide, so the charge may not reflect the amount paid by your insurance or the amount due from you. Consumer coverage, co-payments and deductibles are specific to an insurance plan.The information contained in this file is currently uploaded annually. Charge information is subject to periodic changes and the file will be updated as soon as practically possible to reflect such changes.The file contains both the charge amount, the charge code, and the charge description of the item or service as reflected in the hospital’s chargemaster.For more information on CMS’ hospital price transparency requirements, visit the CMS website.Financial Assistance and Debt Collection PoliciesThe purpose of the policy is to provide patients with information on the Financial Assistance (Charity Care) available at Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center/Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (“AGPU” or “Hospital”) and to outline the process for determining eligibility for Financial Assistance.The policy can be found hereHelp Paying Your Bill- Financial Assistance and Surprise Billing Protections  As part of our mission at Los Angeles Jewish Health and The Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center (JEK) Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU), we are dedicated to providing access to quality healthcare for the community and treating all patients with respect, dignity, and consideration. In accordance with state law, this includes providing financial assistance to eligible patients who cannot afford to pay for care. We offer our patients a variety of options to meet their financial needs, even if they do not qualify for assistance.  Help Paying your Bill-JEK AGPU has many options to assist you with payment of your hospital bill. Options may include: Medi-Cal & Government Program Eligibility: You may be eligible for a government-sponsored health benefit program. Please contact the AGPU Program Director (818) 758-5045 if you would like additional information about government programs or need assistance with applying for such programs. Covered California: You may be eligible for health care coverage under Covered California, which is California’s health benefit exchange under the Affordable Care Act. Contact the AGPU Program Director (818) 758-5045 for more detail and assistance to see if you quality for health care coverage through Covered California. Payment Plans: Patient account balances are due upon receipt.   Patients may be eligible to make payment arrangements for their hospital bill.  The payment plan is negotiated between the Hospital and the patient, and a financial agreement must be signed before AGPU can accept payment arrangements that allow patients to pay their hospital bills over time. For questions, please call 818-758-5045. Discount Program and Charity Care Assistance Information-Summary of Financial Assistance (Charity Care): The AGPU is committed to providing financial assistance to patients who have no third-party source of payment, such as an insurance company or government program, or insured patients with high medical cost as defined by CA HSC 127400(g) for any portion of their medical expenses and who have a family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. The following is a summary of the application process for patients who wish to seek financial assistance. How to Apply-You may apply for financial assistance using the application form that is available from the AGPU Program Director by calling 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038. It is also available on the AGPU website (www.lajh.org). During the application process, you will be asked to provide information regarding the number of people in your family, your monthly income, and other information that will assist the hospital with determining your eligibility for financial assistance. You may be asked to provide a pay stub or tax records to assist AGPU with verifying your income. After you submit the application, the hospital will review the information and notify you in writing regarding your eligibility.  If you have any questions during the application process, you may contact the AGPU Program Director at (818) 758-5045. If you disagree with the hospital’s decision, you may submit a dispute claim to the AGPU Program Director. Copies of this Financial Assistance Policy, the Plain Language Summary and Application, as well as government program applications are available in English and Spanish in person at the AGPU Program Director’s office as well as at www.lajh.org and available by mail.  We can also send you a copy of the Financial Assistance Policy free of charge if you contact our AGPU Program Director at 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038.  In addition you can download from our website www.lajh.org Hospital Bill Complaint Program-The Hospital Bill Compliant Program is a state program that reviews hospital decisions about whether you qualify for help paying your hospital bill. If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the State of California’s Hospital Bill Complaint Program. Go to hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/ for more information and to file a complaint. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 96051.11Note: Authority cited: Section 127010, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 127410, Health and Safety Code.Help Paying Your Bill-  There are free consumer advocacy organizations that will help you understand the billing and payment process. You may call the Health Consumer Alliance at 888-804-3536 or go to healthconsumer.org for more information.  Protections for surprise medical bills- All patients are afforded protections against surprise medical bills. Visit CMS.gov/nosurprises, or call the Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 for more information. TTY users can call 1-800-985-3059. Please see the hospital’s website for copies of these policies, applications, standard charges and shoppable services at https://www.lajhealth.org/help-paying-your-bill  Access- This notice is also available in other languages, large print, braille, audio format. Please contact AGPU Program Director at 818-758-5045 or the Director of Social Services at 818-758-5038 for assistance.   JEK AGPU Financial Assistance PolicyJEKMC Debt Collection PolicyJEKMC AGPU Application for Financial Assistance Audio Transliteration for Deaf or Hard of HearingLegal Name: Los Angeles Jewish Home for The AgingEIN #: 95-3510024
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Celebrating the Wonder and the Miracle of Chanukah 

To borrow from Adam Sandler, "Chanukah is the Festival of Lights. Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights". From those words of wisdom, we get the questions to address. What is this Festival of Lights? Why eight nights? In addition, while sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and latkes (potato pancakes) are awesomely delicious, why are they associated with Chanukah? In the larger universe of Jewish holidays, Chanukah is known to be a minor observance. It certainly is not a holiday or observance on the level of Passover or Sukkot, let alone Rosh Hashanah. Even as we know Chanukah is a minor festival, Chanukah is beloved and its existence is widely known, if not understood. Here in America, Chanukah gets extra exposure because of the proximity to the Christmas holiday. Christmas is always December 25 but Chanukah follows the Jewish-Lunar calendar and can occur as early as Thanksgiving or fall in the later part of December. In that range of dates, Chanukah falls during what is commonly called the Holiday Season and becomes incorporated into it. That takes us to a uniquely American ideal about the make-up of our nation. We inscribe on the coins of our currency E Pluribus Unum- or in the English "Out of many one". In America, we celebrate being united; additionally we treasure what makes each part of the American mosaic unique. As the majority of Americans observe one holiday, Americans of the Jewish faith observe Chanukah. At its core, Chanukah is the celebration of maintaining that uniqueness. In the days following the breakup of the empire of Alexander the Great, the dominant culture in the Mediterranean world was the Greek culture. It would have been easy and made their lives simpler for the Jews of those times to be swallowed by that Greek culture. Yet, they refused, they rebelled against assimilation and they elected to fight to maintain the faith and identity they inherited from their ancestors. At the conclusion of this struggle to remain unique in a larger culture, it was time to dedicate the great Temple in Jerusalem. Part of the dedication or Chanukah was lighting the menorah. On hand was only enough oil to last 1 day. It would take several days for more oil to be procured. Rabbinic legend is that the oil that should have lasted for 1 day actually lasted eight. For that reason, we light candles in ascending numbers each night, to remember this miracle of the oil lasting. In observing Chanukah, we celebrate our unique identity in a larger world. Jews chose to retain the faith of those who came before us and treasure that faith and uniqueness in a diverse world. Finally and very importantly, why the latkes and sufganiyot? They are both linked to the miracle of the oil, as they both are fried foods. When I was a student in Israel, I marveled at the wide variety of sufganiyot-doughnuts on sale in every store and bakery. Naturally, I had to sample a cross section. My favorite? The chocolate frosted-halvah filled doughnut was the winner. Latkes are potato pancakes of course. There are many different recipes for them. You can use potatoes, sweet potatoes or even zucchini. Among the many toppings can be applesauce, sugar or what I recommend, sour cream. All are wonderful, all tasty without a doubt. Nevertheless, what is valued is to pause, gather together to bless and light the candles, sing the traditional songs and celebrate the wonder and miracle of Jewish identity in our day and time.
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