EDITORIAL SAVING HEALTH CARE COUNTY MUST REDUCE COSTS, NOT SERVICES.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week dissected a proposal to narrow the Department of Health Service's $195 million deficit by turning the functions of health-care clinics over to private nonprofit groups.

The idea is for the county to augment funding to the nonprofits so they can take over the clinics' patient load. Because the cost of primary care patient visits would be less under nonprofits, the county would reap millions of dollars in cost savings.

Supervisor Don Knabe argues rightly that outright reductions in community health services are unacceptable. The biggest concern is that any reduction in those services for the uninsured could place additional burdens on already overworked emergency rooms.

Reductions in the current level of clinic services would be self- defeating in that any initial cost savings would pale in comparison to the ER gridlock that would result. It's also important to note that clinics can treat less critical ailments and injuries much more efficiently than costly emergency rooms.

As the Board of Supervisors hones its options in the face of possible reductions in state and federal funding, elected officials must be careful to thoroughly explain future changes to clinic patients.

A greater reliance on private nonprofits could allow the county health officials to reduce staff and save money, but the process is destined to fail if new service providers are not conveniently located to patients.

Supervisors on Tuesday told administrators to come back in March with more options on how to reduce the health services budget and more details on privatization options. That makes sense, especially given the history of county health-care deficits over the past 15 years.

But whatever configuration the county decides, the Measure B parcel tax approved six years ago should continue to be used as intended: for trauma care.

Sensible changes are clearly needed for the county's health-care system, but voters' intentions must be respected.