Spending Plan Aims To Save $80 Million for L.A. County Health Agency
Los Angeles County has developed a plan to save $80 million in health care expenditures to help address a $291 million budget shortfall in the county's health department, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
The plan by county CEO Bill Fujioka calls for:
- Streamlining administrative processes;
- Reducing the use of nursing registries;
- Increasing the use of patient assistance programs to reduce drug costs;
- Identifying drug rebates and discount programs;
- Outsourcing vehicle maintenance;
- Curbing discretionary services and supplies spending;
- Reducing memberships on advisory boards; and
- Controlling overtime expenses.
Fujioka's plan also calls for increasing revenues by setting up payment plans for self-pay patients in hospitals, requiring the fire department to pay Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar for providing the department with bioterrorism supplies and educating doctors to maximize state and federal reimbursements.
Last month, county supervisors rejected Fujioka's plan to close 11 county health clinics and reduce services at six outpatient health centers, which serve about 400,000 patients (Anderson, Los Angeles Daily News, 3/27). 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.