Federal Funds for County Health Programs Warranted
County programs funded with new federal grant money will not "solve the health care crisis in California," but the initiative is a "good avenue for thousands" of uninsured residents to receive medical services, an Oakland Tribune editorial states (Oakland Tribune, 4/20).
Ten counties will receive a combined $540 million in federal funding over the next three years for a program to provide health care services to 180,000 low-income, uninsured residents who are not eligible for public health insurance.
The funding will be directed to provide services for individuals who generally seek care at emergency departments. Counties will use the funding for programs to provide preventive care services to these individuals and follow-up treatment for chronic conditions (California Healthline, 3/30).
Counties "are putting this grant money to good use, expanding and ensuring long-term sustainability of programs that improve people's health who normally wouldn't see this kind of treatment," the editorial states.
"We urge federal officials to award more money in the future, because California's counties are showing they know where those funds should go," the editorial states (Oakland Tribune, 4/20).