Director of Health Services

At its meeting held October 29, 2002, the Board took the following action:

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Supervisor Knabe made the following statement:

“In August the Board voted to close four school-based clinics run by the Department of Health Services (DHS). While the closure of these clinics was not designed to result in significant cost savings, the Department made this recommendation as part of its service reconfiguration and its attempt to focus services to those who are not eligible for other programs or services. For example, the majority of children receiving care in the school-based clinics are eligible for coverage under other public or private programs, such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, or CaliforniaKids.

“Despite the availability of other coverage programs, the Gardena, Kennedy, Pacoima, and Vaughn school-based clinics provide an important linkage to a medical home for the children who use them. For that reason, the L.A. Care Health Plan’s Board of Governors voted unanimously on October 3, 2002 to approve $200,000.00 in funding to support the continued operation of these four DHS-run school-based clinics. These funds will be available for short-term funding of primary care services, long-term strategic planning related to school-based services, and an evaluation as to whether the current services are being provided in the most effective way. Additional funding has been allocated to a select group of affected community clinics for similar planning activities.

“L.A. Care should be applauded for its commitment, particularly with such short notice, to preserving access to these worthy services and allowing additional time to plan, identify other partners, and develop more efficient methods of providing these important services as the Department continues its negotiations with the Federal and State governments. This funding will extend the life of these health care services to school-aged children.”

Therefore, on motion of Supervisor Knabe, seconded by Supervisor Antonovich, unanimously carried (Supervisor Yaroslavsky being absent), the Director of Health Services was instructed to:

1. Accept $200,000 in funding from the L.A. Care Health Plan and to make necessary appropriation adjustments within the Department of Health Services' Fiscal Year 2002-03 budget;

2. Amend the existing agreements with the Los Angeles Unified School District for the operation of the Gardena, Kennedy, Pacoima and Vaughn school‑based clinics to ensure compliance with the terms associated with the receipt of grant funds from L.A. Care Health Plan; and

3. Work collaboratively with L.A. Care Health Plan in the program evaluation and planning for the school-based clinics.

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Copies distributed:

Each Supervisor

Chief Administrative Officer

County Counsel

Superintendent of Schools