BOARD ORDERS HIRING FREEZE OLIVE VIEW PROGRAMS MIGHT BE JEOPARDIZED.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer In a move that could threaten care at the San Fernando Valley's only public hospital, Los Angeles County supervisors ordered a freeze Tuesday on hiring, new contracts and promotions across the Health Department. The board also prepared to hold public hearings as the first step in cutbacks driven by the looming financial collapse of the county's public health care system. Supervisors said the federal government has failed to act on their request for an extension of a waiver from Medicaid rules, which they say is vital to keeping the system operating. ``With the 1115 Medicaid Waiver sailing toward a deadly iceberg, another week has passed with little change of course,'' Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Michael Dennis Antonovich (born 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District, which covers northern Los Angeles County, the Antelope, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and parts of the San Fernando and San said. ``The looming deadline single an S-O-S to the community that looming cuts to health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract must be made to prevent the sinking of the ship.'' The $1 billion waiver - which saved the health system five years ago - expires June 30. The county is seeking its renewal as well as a portion of the state's $13 billion surplus, but negotiations are at an impasse. Last week, the supervisors voted to freeze payments to the 137 private health clinics that contract with the county if the waiver expires. Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
``There will be exceptions,'' he said. ``The board wants me to make sure we don't dig ourselves into a ditch financially, but they don't want me to do that without calculating the human damage.'' Carolyn Rhee, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. at Los Angeles County Olive View- UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. , said the freeze could jeopardize plans to hire 10 doctors and some specialty programs, such as urology. ``We have some critical vacancies,'' she said. ``I think it might jeopardize existing programs.'' She said the hospital needs to hire a podiatrist Podiatrist A physician who specializes in the medical care and treatment of the human foot. Mentioned in: Shin Splints podiatrist , urologist and an OB/GYN doctor, among other specialties. ``If we're not able to hire a urologist, we may have to cut back on our urology services.'' County supervisors said they believe the county most likely to get a reduced amount or a shorter extension of the waiver. ``I got the impression there was no guarantee of what the amount would be or the length,'' Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said. State and federal officials canceled the last two meetings with county officials. Antonovich blamed the federal government failure to restrict immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. for the county's troubled health care system. ``Los Angeles County taxpayers cannot afford to be the HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, to the world.'' |
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