LA County Healthcare System at Risk of Losing Payments Under Reform Measure Bell Gardens Sun
L.A. County Healthcare System at Risk of Losing Payments Under Reform Measure
By EGP Wire Service
Los Angeles County’s public health care network is at risk of losing its main source of revenue as the provisions of the recently adopted health care overhaul take effect, according to a report discussed by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Medi-Cal, which provides health care for the poor, is the number one revenue source for the county’s health care system.
As more patients move into Medi-Cal as a result of the health care law, many may choose health care plans outside the county’s system, leaving the county unable to support its hospitals and clinics.
“In just four years, thousands of patients who formerly lacked health care coverage will be paying health insurance customers,” Supervisor Gloria Molina said.
“Medi-Cal patients will flood our system — and we cannot afford to lose them. Otherwise, we will end up being just a set of emergency rooms and a few clinics caring only for the indigent and the most ill among us, while paying customers go to other plans.”
