About Us
Frequently Asked Questions

HealthView Inc. is a private non-profit agency headquartered in San Pedro California. HealthView, Inc.’s Mission is as follows:

To provide programs and services that promote physical, social and psychological health of individuals, so they may achieve their highest level of functioning in their home-setting, and may improve their well-being and quality of life while decreasing hospitalization, institutionalization, and the stigma of their illness.

We are committed to providing a workplace that fosters a caring environment for our clients, their families, and our employees.

We strive to share our knowledge and expertise with the community to serve the greatest number of people who may benefit from our mission.

HealthView Inc. is a private non-profit agency; therefore there is no individual or group who owns the business, property or buildings. It serves in the public interest. All revenues received by HealthView, Inc. are used to further its mission, pay salaries and wages, and strengthen its financial position (holding of assets including cash and property) to maintain financial stability now and into the future. HealthView, Inc.'s volunteer board of directors governs the decisions of the corporation on how to achieve these mission goals. Harbor View House is owned and operated by HealthView, Inc.

A private non-profit agency is an organization that is incorporated under State law and whose purpose is not to make a profit, but rather to further a charitable, civic, religious, scientific, or other lawful purpose. The Secretary of State's office grants corporate status to organizations in California

When the agency becomes a state private non-profit corporation, it can then apply for 501(c)(3) designation through the IRS. Once the IRS grants 501(c)(3) status, the organization is exempt from certain taxes and any donations to the charitable organization are tax deductible. Many individuals and organizations prefer to make donations to 501(c)(3) private non-profits.

Any organization or group can apply for 501(c)(3) status, provided their charter or mission focuses on the non-profit’s objective.

HealthView, Inc. is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The board members live in Southern California and have varied professional backgrounds. The board members are responsible for overseeing that HealthView, Inc. accomplishes its mission. (See the About Us-Board Members section for a current list of the HealthView Board of Directors). The board appoints or "hires" an individual to act as "CEO" Chief Executive Officer to oversee the day to day operation and management of the corporation. Currently, Vernon Gettys is employed as HeatlhView, Inc.'s CEO. The CEO serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors and his/her contract is reviewed annually. You will find a bio for Vernon Gettys and other key staff in the About Us-Executives and Staff Members section of this web site.

Each facility and/or program such as the ICF Nursing unit, ARF Adult Residential Facility, HealthView Pine Villa residential facility, HealthView Home Health Inc., Harbor View House mental health day rehabilitation program, is required to have an Administrator or Director licensed by the appropriate county or state agency to operate that program.

HealthView, Inc. is currently three companies with numerous programs and services. We provide low cost affordable physical, social, and psychological health care services to over 500 clients daily and employ a staff of over 250 'People Caring for People'.

HealthView, Inc. is a public non-profit corporation, and as such no one really "makes money" from its operations. Revenues from its companies go to pay expenses and salaries. Revenues in excess of expenses help support the programs and services at Harbor View House such as the Resident Work Program, Living Museum Art Gallery, Café Club Music Center, along with maintaining the general financial stability of the corporation.

Please contact Martha Correa at (310) 547-3341, EXT 3161 for details on donating to HealthView, Inc. or Harbor View House. You may also choose to click here or on the "Contribute" link located throughout this web site. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you.

Harbor View House has been in operation at 921 South Beacon Street in San Pedro, since 1967. It is one of the largest unlocked care facilities in the western United States serving those with mental disabilities. Harbor View House is comprised of two separate residential units. The Adult Residential Facility (ARF) is a 204 bed residential facility licensed by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The ARF unit serves adults 18-59 who have a chronic mental illness. The Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) is an 83 bed intermediate care nursing facility licensed by the Department of Health Care Services (DHS). The ICF Nursing unit serves clients 18 and up who have both a chronic mental illness and a medical condition requiring nursing supervision.

Also contained in the facility is HealthView Behavioral Services Center (HVBSC). This program, licensed by the Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health, is an outpatient clinic designed to provide Mental Health Services, Target Case Management, Medication Support and Crises Intervention.

A mental illness or mental disorder refers to one of many mental health conditions characterized by distress, impaired cognitive functioning, atypical behavior and/or maladaptive behavior. Definitions, assessments and classifications of mental disorders may vary, however guideline criterion listed in the ICD, DSM, or CCMD are widely accepted by many mental health professionals. Categories of diagnoses in these schemes may include mood or affective disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders.

Symptoms of mental illness greatly vary dependent upon the specific disorder, but may include mild to chronic forms of depression, loss of cognitive abilities, or the presence of hallucinations or delusions. Causes of mental illness also vary, but may result from genetics, trauma, biological factors such as infections or toxins, or neuroplasticity resulting from psychological or anthropological factors.

Potential residents are carefully screened to assure that they meet specific admission criteria. Additionally, the HVH Admissions Department interviews each potential resident after their information has been approved by the appropriate units’ supervisor. Please contact us at (310) 547-3341 and ask for the Admissions Coordinator for further assistance and information.

Residents are allowed to come and go freely and are afforded the same personal rights as all other Americans. It must be remembered that it is not a crime to be mentally ill.

Most residents living in the residential unit receive state disability funding because of their mental impairment. Some residents' rents are paid by the Veterans Administration, or by the California Department of Mental Health. Rents for residents (patients) who need nursing supervision due to a medical illness along with their mental disorder are usually paid by Medical.

Typically an ARF resident pays $961.00 per month or about $32.00 a day for room and board, activities, medication supervision, housekeeping and other services. The rate for those residents living in the ICF nursing unit requiring 24 hour nursing supervision is $94.42 per day.

Residents in the ARF residential unit receive approximately $125.00 per month for personal income expenditures. Patients in the ICF nursing unit receive from $30.00 to $50.00 per month. This personal expense money is given to the resident from their funding source and distributed by HVH staff. Harbor View House is required to insure that residents receive this money and provide documentation to the licensing agencies that these funds are being safeguarded and distributed appropriately.

Each resident is assigned a medical doctor and psychiatrist upon admission. The resident has the right to keep his existing physicians if he so chooses. In these cases, Harbor View House provides transportation to appointments as needed. In any given week a medical doctor is in the facility two times per week and a psychiatrist three to five times a week to address the needs of the residents. Psychology, podiatry, and physical and occupational therapy services are also offered in the facility. Services given by these providers are billed separately by them to the appropriate payor, usually Medical or Medicare.

In addition, other counseling and psychological services are provided by Harbor View House through its HealthView Behavioral Services Center Outpatient Clinic which is under contract with the Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health.

Depending on the residents’ qualifications, resident medications may be funded by Medicare Part D, Medical, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health or Veterans Administration. Harbor View House staff store, safeguard and dispense the medication according to physician orders and current state regulations.

Depending upon the unit in which the resident lives and the services that are provided, several different agencies perform annual surveys to assure that Harbor View House is operating within state and federal guidelines.

Annual surveys of operations are conducted by the California Department of Social Services, California Department of Health Care Services, Los Angeles Department of Mental Health and the Veterans Administration. These surveys also include review of financial records to insure that resident’s funds are being distributed and spent appropriately.

In addition HealthView, Inc. is required to submit annual tax exempt 990 reports to the State of California. HealthView, Inc. receives annual financial audits from an independent audit agency and the State of California Department of Health Services. HealthView, Inc. and Harbor View House also receive random financial audits from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles County Auditors Controllers Office, Social Security Administration - Resident Account Audit, State of California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division - Resident Account Audit. All surveys and audits are available for public viewing; all programs are subject to financial audit.

Assisted living is defined as a housing option for older adults promoting independence and autonomy while also providing services to assist aging individuals with daily living.

Services included in the base price for Pine Villa assisted living facility include three meals per day, assistance with Activities of Daily Living, social activities, medication management, laundry and housekeeping. Additional fees may be charged for services such as additional personal care, laundry needs over and above the basic service, meals delivered to the living quarters and dementia care.

For further information please visit: www.pinevilla.com (new browser window)^

Many Long Term care insurance policies that cover skilled nursing home care also cover a portion of assisted living care if you meet the policies criteria. Please check your policy or your broker to see if you're covered.

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Some HMO's pay for assisted living, but on a very limited basis. If you have opted out of Medicare for an HMO please check with your provider to see what assisted living services, if any, are covered.

Medical, California's version of Medicaid covers Skilled Nursing care but does not pay for assisted living in California. Medicaid in some states does pay for assisted living services under that State's Medicaid waiver program.

The goal at HealthView Pine Villa is to provide as much care as necessary tailored to meet the needs of the individual. An à la carte menu of additional services based on the residents physical and mental needs can be added to the resident’s basic services.

For further information, please contact us at 1-866-PINEVILLA (746-3845) or go to the Pine Villa web site at: www.pinevilla.com (new browser window)^

Home Health services provide intermittent skilled nursing, physical, speech and other therapies to patients under physicians orders (usually recently discharged from the hospital). Services are paid for in the form of capitated agreements with major hospitals, by Medicare payments and private insurance HMO payments.

HealthView Home Health (HVHH) is a Medicare certified; Joint Commission accredited Home Health Agency based in Long Beach California. The agency receives annual surveys for compliance from the California State Department of Health Care Services and Joint Commission along with annual financial audits.

HealthView Home Health is certified by the Department of Health Care Services. After a person sees his or her physician, or has recently been in the hospital, their doctor may find the need for them to receive continuing care in the comfort of their own home. This can beneficial because it not only helps reduce costs but in many cases improves the healing process when the patient is in their home environment.

As an example, these services could be provided by a Registered Nurse or a Physical Therapist. They are provided on an intermittent basis -- meaning once to several times a week. The goal of the skilled person is to train the patient and relatives to become independent in their own care.

Home Health care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurance, HMO’s etc.