Budget Cuts to Health Programs Hitting Hard in San Joaquin Valley

County health officials throughout the San Joaquin Valley are scaling back services in the face of budget cuts just as they are seeing demand for services increasing, the Fresno Bee reports.

As unemployment has increased during the recession, more people lost employer-sponsored health coverage and became uninsured. 

County health departments' challenges were underscored by a drop in revenue from state vehicle license fees as fewer Californians bought new cars.

Moreover, county health officials worry that more budget cuts could be on the horizon.

Steps Taken

Many counties have eliminated staff positions in their health departments, translating to less frequent visits, more remote consultations, longer wait times and the elimination of some services altogether.

For example, Fresno County nurses no longer visit all tuberculosis patients daily, and Fresno and Madera counties have eliminated mobile immunization clinics for children and teen pregnancy prevention services.