Health Programs Set To Take Hits in Orange, Sacramento Counties
Orange County
The Orange County Health Care Agency is scaling back or eliminating some services and eliminating 153 staff positions to address a $15 million budget deficit, the Orange County Register reports.
The job cuts are hitting programs funded through the agency's discretionary budget, including:
- California Children's Services program;
- Outpatient mental health clinics;
- Children's behavioral health services; and
- Nursing care at county jails.
Fifty-three of the positions currently are unfilled.
Local health care providers say the cuts will lead to an increase in emergency department visits and strain clinics (Muir, Orange County Register, 1/23).
The Western Center on Law and Poverty has filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts.
Sacramento County
On Friday, Sacramento County officials announced a proposal for mid-year budget cuts that will hit health and human services programs as the county works to cover a $55 million budget deficit, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Health and human services programs could lose 84 staff positions, and mental health programs could see 40 staff positions cut.
The proposal also calls for closing two county health clinics and terminating relationships with some mental health contractors.
The county Board of Supervisors will consider the cuts at its Feb. 10 meeting (Lewis, Sacramento Bee, 1/24).
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