Orange County Provides Additional Funds for Trauma Care
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to provide $1.75 million from the county general fund for additional funds for emergency department care over the next six months, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The board opted to allocate the money from the general fund rather than increase base fines for driving violations, as permitted under a state law approved this year. The law permits counties to increase the base fines by 20% to fund:
- Fees for physicians who provide ED care;
- Pediatric and adult trauma care; and
- Other emergency medical services.
A county report found that increasing the fines would have generated about $3.5 million annually but that such funds would cover only 3% of trauma costs in the county (Berthelsen, Los Angeles Times, 12/13). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.