Supervisors Add $10 Million for Health Care

Orange County supervisors agreed to include a $10 million increase in health care spending in the fiscal year 2006-2007 county budget, the Orange County Register reports.

Supervisors said they would increase health care funding in the $5.5 billion county budget proposal after health care advocates testified that costs to hospitals for uncompensated care are increasing and jeopardizing the county's safety net.

Under the budget plan, 65% of the $10 million would go to local hospitals, while local doctors providing care to low-income patients would receive 25% and local clinics would receive 10%.

Supervisors also said they would examine ways local clinics could qualify for federal funding (Santana, Orange County Register, 6/14).