Yolo County Cuts Funds for Undocumented Immigrants’ Health Care
On Tuesday, Yolo County supervisors voted to cut county funding for health care services for undocumented immigrants, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The cut is projected to save the county more than $1 million (Sangree, Sacramento Bee, 5/20).
Overall, the county is facing a $24 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2009-2010.
Supervisors had delayed the vote while county officials tried to negotiate an agreement with local hospitals to help fund community clinics (California Healthline, 5/6).
Robin Affrime -- head of CommuniCare Health Centers, which provide treatment to low-income residents of Woodland, Davis and West Sacramento -- said the county spending cuts would shift costs to health care providers.
Supervisor Jim Provenza said undocumented immigrants would delay care at clinics and eventually seek treatment in hospital emergency departments (Sacramento Bee, 5/20). 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.