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THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 39, N0. 2
Jan. 10, 2025
Scripps, .com Anthem end deal SAN MARCOS -NEWS
THE VISTA More than 125,000 NEWS
JAIL DEATHS PERSIST
By Leo Place
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Photo by Joe Orellana
Fallbrook Union settles mask lawsuit
Top 10 wine list of 2024 Taste of Wine & Food highlights its favorite wines from last year. 17
FALLBROOK — The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District has agreed to pay $375,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former district employee who alleged she was fired for not complying with the district’s pandemic-related masking requirements. Shawna Velasco, who worked as a personnel services technician, alleged in her federal lawsuit that she could not wear a mask due to a facial injury that required a complete nose
reconstruction. Velasco claimed in her lawsuit that she had documentation from her physician stating she could not wear a mask due to her injury, but the district did not allow her alternative work accommodations, such as working from home. Velasco’s attorneys also allege her co-workers were not required to wear masks or face coverings, but because Velasco was TURN TO LAWSUIT ON 27
REPTILE RESCUE
EcoVivarium, a sanctuary in Escondido home to approximately 400 reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, is asking for community support to help keep its doors open and its animals fed as it grapples with rising operational costs. Story on 12. Photo by Samantha Nelson
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ENCINITAS — Scripps Health patients whose care has been covered by Anthem Blue Cross are considered out of network as of Jan. 1, following months of unsuccessful negoRANCHO tiations between the two compaSFNEWS nies. Scr ipps Health and Anthem Blue Cross have been in contract renewal discussions since early 2024 and warned customers in October that Scripps may no longer be in-network if the two parties couldn’t agree. The deadline passed at midnight on Jan. 1 with no agreement, leaving around 125,000 people with Anthem insurance no longer able to access in-network prices through one of San Diego County’s largest medical providers. In a statement, Scripps officials said they attempted to negotiate with Anthem to remove bureaucratic “red tape,” requiring significant time and resources from doctors and staff to navigate. “During the negotiation, Scripps was advocating to reduce Anthem’s bureaucratic policies and procedures to improve our patients’ experiences and outcomes and help keep costs down,”
I have lost two doctors who healed me. I’m now scared. I don’t know what to do or think.”
In-custody deaths declined in San Diego County last year, but the sheriff, family members and local activists agree there is room for improvement. Story on 3.
By City News Service
.com
no longer in network
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TURN TO SCRIPPS ON 21