Agents Raid Borrego Community Health Foundation
BORREGO SPRINGS, CA — Two days after state and federal agents raided the offices of Borrego Community Health Foundation, a nonprofit provider in Borrego Springs, the organization named an interim chief executive officer to lead the organization.
Dr. Edgar Bulloch, chief medical officer of Borrego Community Health Foundation, was tapped by the Borrego Health Board of Trustees for the interim CEO position, it was announced Thursday.
Bulloch will continue to perform in a dual role until a permanent CEO has been selected, which is anticipated to be within six months, according to a Borrego Health news release.
Bulloch has been with Borrego Health for five years.
“Dr. Bulloch is well-respected by colleagues and peers, in addition to those organizations within the communities we serve. As leader of the Borrego Health COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. Bulloch earned the trust of the community during an exceptionally challenging time. After getting to know Dr. Bulloch, and understanding his commitment to our patients, I believe that he is the right person to move us forward at this time," said Dan Anderson, Borrego Health’s board chair.
A nationwide search for a permanent CEO is underway and Bulloch has not applied for the job, according to the news release.
Bulloch replaces Mikia Wallis. Her departure took place this month, but details surrounding it are unclear. The organization's shakeup has also included the recent removal of two Borrego Health directors and staff cutbacks, as well as some legal turbulence.
According to a report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, dozens of investigative agents were at the organization’s administrative offices on Palm Canyon Drive Tuesday morning, seizing computers and boxes of medical records and interviewing employees.
Search warrants were also served at the organization's Borrego Medical Clinic near downtown Borrego Springs, as well as the foundation’s administrative offices in Kearny Mesa and at the El Cajon headquarters of Premier Healthcare Management, a management services company that provides billing and other services to the nonprofit, according to the U-T.
Few details about the ongoing investigation were made public by law enforcement.
FBI spokeswoman Davene Butler told the U-T that search warrants related to the investigation were served at four locations in Borrego Springs, El Cajon and San Diego on Tuesday.
In a brief statement, Borrego Health said, “Borrego Health remains committed to its goal of improving the health of under-served populations in our service areas by delivering high quality and compassionate care. Borrego Health intends to continue its full cooperation with all government inquiries.”
Borrego Health operates dozens of health-care facilities in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The Borrego Sun weekly newspaper has raised questions about Borrego Health’s medical services, management practices, governance structure and business practices, and the U-T's investigative reporting also prompted concerns.
This article originally appeared on the Palm Desert Patch
