San Luis Obispo County Health Clinic May Contract With Community Health Centers
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-0 to contract with not-for-profit Community Health Centers to operate the county's Family Care Centers for an estimated annual savings of as much as $2 million, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports. The board will evaluate CHC before transferring control of the care centers, possibly as early as June 1, 2005. The board wants to establish an oversight committee to monitor clinic operations following the transfer. CHC will continue to treat all patients regardless of income, with fees on a sliding scale based on income. CHC currently operates several other clinics and qualifies for federal funding that the county cannot receive. The board decided that the county should continue to operate its laboratory independently for another year, at which time a decision may be made to turn it over to CHC, as well. The board has delayed a decision on whether the projected savings from the agreement would be used to provide health insurance for low-income county residents ages 6 to 18 under the Children's Health Initiative (Roberts, San Luis Obispo Tribune, 3/17).
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