Los Angeles Times Editorial Asks Federal, State Officials To Address Problem of Uninsured
The passage of a Los Angeles County ballot measure that will raise property taxes to fund trauma care centers and emergency rooms indicates that "ordinary people want action on the health care problems that politicians love to ignore," such as the uninsured, a Los Angeles Times editorial states. According to the editorial, Los Angeles County has a large number of uninsured residents, and the cost of care for those residents has contributed in large part to a budget deficit in the county's health system. Although county, state and federal officials have "punted" the problem for a number of years, supervisors this year asked for the property tax to help address the issue, the editorial states. However, the editorial adds that the "insurance crisis is not something that counties, the most cash-strapped of governments, can solve by themselves." The editorial recommends that the federal government provide additional funds to Los Angeles County and that Gov. Gray Davis (D) increase the state's contribution to Medi-Cal -- a move that would result in more federal funds for the program and allow more state residents to enroll -- to help reduce the number of uninsured county residents and address the health system budget deficit. The editorial concludes, "Voters care about health care. Politicians should too. There is plenty left to do" (Los Angeles Times, 11/11).
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