Los Angeles County Failing To Make Several Promised Reforms to Health Care System, Reports Say

The Department of Health Services on Thursday released two reports on the findings of an independent audit that examined progress Los Angeles County has made on reforms promised in 2000 to the public health care system, the Los Angeles Times reports. In exchange for $900 million in additional federal funding, the county in 2000 agreed to make reforms in 12 broad areas mostly related to administrative services.

The audit found that most of the promised reforms were made in fiscal year 2000-2001 and FY 2001-2002 but that three areas of reform were not adequately addressed. According to the report, the county has:

• Not increased Medi-Cal enrollment to required levels;
  
  
• Submitted late an application for a federal program; and
  
  
• Inadequately monitored its contracts with community clinics and other private providers.

DHS spokesperson Ken August said, "The audit's findings raise serious concerns about Los Angeles County's performance in both fiscal and programmatic areas."

Assembly member Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) said the data raise serious questions about the county's progress.

John Wallace, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said, "The county's position is that we have met all the deliverables" required by the funding agreement (Felch, Los Angeles Times, 3/25).

The reports are available online.