HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09111992 - B THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on September 11 , 1992, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, Torlakson, McPeak
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Fanden
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Health and Safety Code )
S 1442 . 5 Hearing Findings ) RESOLUTION 92/760
(Beilenson Hearing Findings ) )
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1442 . 5, the Board
conducted a public hearing on September 11, ' 1992 on proposed closure of
County facilities, reductions, or elimination of the level of services
in the County's Health Services Department.
I . The Board received written and oral evidence, as follows :
A. Written documents were received into the record, and are
filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, as
follows :
1 . Board Order fixing hearing for September 11 , 1992 at
2 : 00 p.m.
2 . Notice of Public Hearing.
3 . Memorandum dated September 11 , 1992 by Ralph Murphy
for Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation.
4 . Memorandum dated September 11, 1992 by Jack McGervey,
Chair, Contra Costa Health Plan Advisory Board.
5 . List of Questions for the County by Rev. Curtis A.
Timmons .
6 . Such other documents as may appear in the records of
the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors .
B. The oral testimony received is summarized as follows :
1 . Mark Finucane, Health Services Director, made a few
introductory remarks about the reductions being less
than was feared, as set forth in the hearing notice.
2 . Mike Corman, Local #1, opposed the elimination of
three outpatient therapist positions .
3 . Violet Smith, Chair, Mental Health Coalition, spoke
briefly about the mental health reductions, the
situation with Napa State Hospital, and the
commitment of the members of the Mental Health
Coalition to work together.
4 . George Saunders, Cynthia Miller, Vicki Smith, and
Dennis Lepack, members of the Mental Health
Coalition, introduced themselves .
5 . Wayne Wechsler, Contractor's Alliance, joined the
Mental Health Coalition in its opposition to budget
reductions in mental health.
RESOLUTION NO. 92/760
6 . Jack McGervey, Chair, Contra Costa Health Plan
Advisory Board, addressed the proposed budget
reductions for the Contra Costa Health Plan and the
possible consequences of those reductions .
7 . Jean Siri, Doris Copperman, and Bess Anderson McNeil,
Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board
members, spoke about the deterioration of the public
health system and the need for home health care and
public health care visits .
8 . Susan Prather, Homeless Advocate, opposed any
reductions in the health department.
9 . Billie Joe Wilson, Local #1, discussed the budget
crisis and opposed reductions in health services .
10 . Tracy Wiott, a mental health client, opposed any
reduction to mental health services .
11 . Teri Jarvis, a Basic Adult Care member, opposed any
reduction to the Basic Adult Care Program.
12 . Elias Katz, representing the National Institute of
Art and Disabilities, opposed reductions in
developmental disabilities programs .
13 . Michael Kowall, Psychiatric Technician, opposed the
elimination of the public safety officer on J Ward at
Merrithew Memorial Hospital .
14 . Ralph Murphy, Attorney, Contra Costa Legal Services
Foundation, spoke against reductions in health care
services to indigent people.
15 . Jean Siri, 1015 Leneve Place, E1 Cerrito, spoke
against all budget reductions that adversely impact
the poor.
16 . Paul Katz, Local #1, urged that care be used in
making reductions to the Contra Costa Health Plan.
17 . Edith Lowenstein, M.D. , Maternal, Child and
Adolescent Health Advisory Committee, supported
prevention programs and early treatment as the most
cost effective health care.
18 . Martin Garro, E Ward, Merrithew Memorial Hospital,
spoke in favor of retaining the public safety officer
on J Ward at Merrithew Memorial Hospital .
19 . Wayne and Kathy Simpson, Alliance for the Mentally
Ill, advocated cooperation with Napa State Hospital
to avoid further service reductions and suggested a
task force for the mentally ill .
20 . Lynnie Morgan, Epilepsy League of the East Bay, spoke
as a parent in support of continued funding of
programs for the developmentally disabled.
21 . Tom Morioka, Regional Center of East Bay and the
Developmental Disabilities Council, spoke against the
health services department reductions .
22 . Reverend Curtis A. Timmons requested answers to his
written questions .
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II . Findings .
On the basis of the foregoing evidence, the Board makes the
following findings :
A. Notices of Public Hearing were posted on or before August
11 , 1992 and such notices and postings were in compliance
with Health and Safety Code section 1442 . 5 .
B. "Indigents" for the purposes of Health and Safety Code
section 1442 and the Board"s September 11, 1992
legislative hearing pursuant to Health and Safety Code
section 1442 . 5, are those persons who are eligible for
General Assistance under the standards adopted by
Resolution No. 91/606 , as modified by Resolution Nos .
91/717 and 92/186 .
C. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1442 . 5, all
interested persons were allowed to speak and/or provide
written comments at the hearing on September 11, 1992 .
D. The following proposed reductions or changes, which were
included in the posted Notice of Public Hearing, are
eliminated from consideration by the Board and will not be
implemented:
1 . Urgent care services eliminated at ambulatory care
clinics;
2 . Brentwood Health Center closure;
3 . Family Practice Clinic reductions in hours and
staffing;
4 . Modification of appointment system by financial
class ;
5 . Non-urgent transportation service reductions; and
6 . Walnut Creek Hospital contract cancellation.
E. The following reductions or changes were considered at the
public hearing on September 11 , 1992 and were included in
the Notice of Public Hearing:
1 . Basic Adult Care (BAC) Program removal from Contra
Costa Health Plan (CCHP) in order to cease
reimbursement of non-county-provided emergency care
to indigents ;
2 . CCHP out-of-plan referral reductions;
3 . Transfer of "no-pay" patients to county hospital
reductions;
4 . Public Health Clinic service reductions;
5 . Home Health Agency service reductions;
6 . Prevention Program service reductions;
7 . Public Health Laboratory reductions;
8 . Sexually Transmitted Disease Program reductions; and
9 . Family Planning service reductions .
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F. As to the reductions and changes considered at the public
hearing on September 11, 1992, the Board finds as follows :
1 . The removal of the Basic Adult Care (BAC) Program
from the Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) will not
reduce any mandated medical services and will not
affect the level of medical care services to
indigents .
2 . The cessation of payments for emergency care rendered
to indigents at non-county facilities will not reduce
any mandated medical services, will not affect the
level of medical care services to indigents, and
emergency medical services will remain available to
indigents at Merrithew Memorial Hospital and at other
hospitals in the County.
3 . The reduction in CCHP out-of-plan referrals will not
reduce any mandated medical services, will not affect
the level of medical care services to indigents, and
medically necessary services will continue to be
provided by CCHP or by community providers as
appropriate .
4 . The decrease in "no-pay" patient transfers to
Merrithew Memorial Hospital will not reduce any
mandated medical services, will not affect the level
of medical care services to indigents, and medically
necessary inpatient services will continue to be
provided to indigents by Merrithew Memorial Hospital
and by other hospitals in the County.
5 . The services of the Public Health Clinics are not
mandated and are not medically necessary services .
The elimination of staff overtime through improved
clinic scheduling will not affect the level of
medical care services to indigents and will not
reduce any mandated medical services .
6 . Home Health Aides and Home Health Social Workers are
not mandated and do not provide medically necessary
services . The elimination of two Home Health Aides
and one part time Social Worker in the Home Health
Program will not reduce any mandated medical services
and will not affect the level of medical care
services to indigents .
7 . The Administrative Intern providing media and public
relations support to the Public Health Prevention
Program is not a mandated position and does not
provide medically necessary services . Elimination of
this position will not reduce any mandated medical
services and will not affect the level of medical
care services to indigents .
8 . The Public Health Laboratory is not a mandated or
medically necessary service. The temporary reduction
in the microbiologist staff of the Public Health
Laboratory will not reduce any mandated medical
services, will not affect the level of medical care
services to indigents, and laboratory services will
continue to be provided.
9 . The Sexually Transmitted Disease Program is not a
mandated or medically necessary service . The
elimination of one clerk in the Sexually Transmitted
Disease Program will not reduce any mandated medical
services and will not affect the level of medical
care services to indigents .
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10 . The Family Planning Clinics are not mandated and do
not provide medically necessary services . The
reduction in hours of operation of the Concord Family
Planning Clinic will not reduce any mandated medical
services and will not affect the level of medical
care services to indigents .
G. There will be no detrimental impact on the health care
needs of the County' s indigents from the changes and
reductions approved herein.
H. All of the program changes and reductions considered by
the Board on September 11, 1992 are approved.
III . If any finding herein is held invalid, such invalidity shall
not affect findings which can be given effect without the
invalid provision, and to this end, the invalid finding is
severable.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that neither the inclusion of a
proposed change in a program in the Notice of Public Hearing,
the holding of a hearing with respect to a change in a program
included in the Notice of Public Hearing, nor the making of a
finding as to such a change, is to be construed as an admission
by the County of Contra Costa or by the Board that any of the
program changes covered by the Notice are subject to the
provisions of Health and Safety Code sections 1442 or 1442 . 5 .
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Resolution be included as a
part of the official public hearing record and that the Health
Services Director is directed to implement the changes approved
herein and submit such further action to the Board as may be
necessary.
1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct cupy or
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Orig. Dept: County Counsel Board of SupeMso on s date shown.
CC: State Department of Health ServicesArrESTEp; --
County Administrator PHIL BATC ELOR.ClerkottheE;oard
Health Services Director atSupeMMMand County Administrator
Contra Costa Health Plan Director
Detwty
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