LOS ANGELES: Probe Of Storefront Clinics To Be Launched

      The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to "convene a task force" to examine illegal storefront health clinics in the greater Los Angeles area. The vote follows the highly publicized death of a toddler following care at one of the clinics, as well as a Monday night television report exposing the clinics. While "the county does not appear to have legal jurisdiction over private medical clinics, which are licensed by the state," the Los Angeles Times reports that "supervisors voted to attempt to eliminate them." County Supervisor Gloria Molina, "who sponsored the motion to create a task force," said "that the district attorney might be able to investigate such operations with regard to laws against fraud." She said, "We can't just go around saying it's not our job. The reality is that we're responsible for health care in Los Angeles County." The Times reports that the task force will include the district attorney as well as representatives from state and county departments, the California Healthcare Association and the California Medical Association (Bernstein, 5/20).