HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10091990 - H.2 H. 2
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on October 9 , 1990 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Fanden
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Powers
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: Hearing on Proposed Reductions in the
Health Services Department
The Chair convened the hearing on proposed reductions in the
Health Services Department.
Arthur Walenta, Assistant County Counsel, advised that this
hearing is being held pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section
1442. 5 and AB 3573 on health services reductions. He noted that
these reductions were noticed by a September. 7 , 1990 notice of the
Health Services Department; that they were previously considered by
the Board on September 11 , 1990 and set for this date for formal
hearing. Mr. Walenta requested the Board to receive into its record
today the September 7 , 1990 hearing notice, the proceedings that took
place on September 11 , 1990 on this subject, and the October 8 , 1990
report to the Board from the Health Services Director. Mr. Walenta
advised that at the conclusion of the hearing the Board will be asked
to make certain findings that the notice as referenced was posted,
that indigents for the purpose of this hearing are those that are
entitled to General Assistance under the Board' s resolutions, and
that this hearing proceeded regularly.
The Chair declared the hearing open and the persons as noted
below spoke.
Sherri Granados, 426 West 11th Street, Pittsburg, advised that
she is an LVN, a diabetic, and a county health patient. She did not
believe the care she has been receiving at the Pittsburg Clinic has
been good, citing as an example that she believes she was given the
wrong kind of insulin, and the wrong diet because she has experienced
a sudden loss of weight. She noted that last week she was taken to
the County Hospital with an adverse insulin reaction, that her
medication was 'not changed, and that she was sent home by taxicab.
Maggie Dee, P. O. Box 783 , Pittsburg, expressed concern with the
reductions in health care and how they will impact on Ms. Granados
who is her attendant. She commented on the need to make the State
aware of the health care needs in Contra Costa County and the need to
provide an adequate funding level to provide health care services to
the poor.. She recommended that the Board take a serious look at
developing an 800 telephone number where people can call in acts of
fraud reflecting how monies are overspent by people who work for the
County or who are using county services and labor from the County on
their own private properties . She commented on her own health care
needs and the economies she is required to practise.
Supervisor McPeak requested the County Administrator to review
the possibility of installing a telephone as the previous speaker
proposed that may provide more information to reduce further waste.
Mr. Batchelor responded that he would look into it.
Philip Bertental, Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation, P. O.
Box 2289 , Richmond, advised that he was at. the hearing today on
behalf of his client, Mr. Harris, who is challenging a number of the
health cuts approved by the Board in the course of the last several
months. He addressed his concerns to the waiting time for
appointments at clinics and requested that the County not implement
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those cuts which will require the County to have waiting times for
appointments in excess of what is set forth in State and Federal law,
the County' s contracts with the State, and the regulations promul-
gated by both the State and Federal Health Services Departments. He
advised that it was his understanding that the operation of the
Health Plan is in jeopardy because of those increased waiting times.
Mark Finucane, Director of the Health Services Department,
referred to two documents submitted to the Board, the first
representing the Department' s original plan for reductions in the
ambulatory care system, and the second which the Department is
actually recommending. Mr. Finucane advised that over the past few
weeks his staff has been able to effectuate some changes in service
configurations to reduce $325,000 out of a $15 million budget. He
noted that this will result in the loss of five employees out of 350
employees in the ambulatory care clinic system, and the loss of 20 or
22 out of more than 500 clinics provided weekly in the County; the
reductions would impact on approximately 400 patients at clinics.
Mr. Finucane stated that he did not believe these reductions violate
Proposition 99 ' s maintenance of efforts provisions, nor that the
Health Plan license is in jeopardy as a result of any waiting time
problems. He advised that if at any point he believes the license is
in jeopardy, he will immediately bring it to the attention of the
County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors.
Marueen E. Scherzberg, Family Nurse Practitioner of Contra Costa
County, read a statement signed by 12 nurse practitioners expressing
concern about potential cutbacks in county health care.
All persons desiring to speak having "been heard, IT IS ORDERED
ORDERED BY THE BOARD that the hearing is CLOSED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that County Counsel is REQUESTED to
prepare appropriate findings for consideration by the Board on
October 23 , 1990.
1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
cc: County Counsel Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
County Administrator ATTESTED: (9lax&�?_, 23"
Health Services Director PHIL BATCHELOR,Clark of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
By -�'�`� ,Deputy
i
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Contra
The Board of supervisors Costa Health Services Department
Tom Powers,1st District County
Nancy C.Fanden,2nd District OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Robert I.Schroder,3rd District a r
Sunne Wright McPeak,4th District
Mark Finucane,Director
Tom Torlakson,5th District :
Administrative Offices
County Administrator 20 Allen Street
Martinez,California 94553
Phil Batchelor ry:., `rte (415)646-4416
�STa court'
County Administrator
DATE: October8 199
TO: Board of uperviso s
FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director
SUBJECT: October 9 , 1990 Hearing Regarding Ambulatory Care Service
Reductions
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The Health Services Department submits this report to the Board of
Supervisors for the October 9 , 1990 hearing. The hearing, pursuant
to AB-3573 and Health and Safety Code, Section 1442 . ,5, which was
noticed on September 7 , 1990, concerns reductions in ambulatory
care services .
The Health Services Department had proposed reductions as
delineated in the September 7 , 1990 notice (Attachment 1 ) .
We have revised those reductions (Attachment 2) to lessen the
impact on services to the indigents; however total dollar savings
remain the same.
MG:LB:dc
Attachments
A-345 (11/87)
Attachment >t
September 7, 1990
NOTICE . OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Board of Supervisors of the County of Contra Costa will conduct
a PUBLIC HEARING pursuant to AB 3573 and Health and Safety Code
Section 1442 . 5, on the elimination of and/or reductions in the level
of health services provided by the County, and/or the closing of
County health facilities . The hearing will be held at the following
place and time:
Board of Supervisors Chambers
Room 107 , Administration Building
651 Pine Street
Martinez, California 94553
October 9 , 1990 - 11 :00 a.m.
At the hearing, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will
consider the impact on the health care needs of the County's indigents
of the implementation of the changes set forth in the attached
summary.
The Board does not consider all of the program changes in the attached
summary to be within the required coverage of Health and Safety Code
Section 1442 . 5 or AB 3573 . Its scheduling of this Hearing, giving this
Notice of Public Hearing, the holding of a Hearing, and the making of
any findings, shall not be construed as an admission by the County of
Contra Costa, or the Board of Supervisors, that any of the actions
included in the attached summary are subject to the hearing provisions
of Health and Safety Code Section 1442.5 or AB 3573 .
Attachment l (cont. )
September 7, 1990
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
REDUCTIONS
FISCAL YEAR 1990--91
Ambulatory Care Services
This program provides primary care and specialty services to the
clients of the Health Services Department. Clinic services are
generally between the hours of 8 :00 a.m. and 4 :00 p.m. , Monday
through Friday.
Sites : Clinic sites: Martinez, 2500 Alhambra
Richmond, 38th & Bissell
Pittsburg, 550 School Street
Concord, 3052 Willow Pass Road
Brentwood, 118 Oak Street
This program is administered through the Division
of Hospital and Clinics of the Health Services
Department.
Nature of the Reduction or Chancre: Approximately 120
physician hours would be reduced throughout the family
practice clinics system at the three major health center
sites : Richmond, Pittsburg, and Martinez . In addition, 80
family nurse practitioner (FNP) hours would be reduced
... •throughout the family nurse practitioner clinic system at the
same sites . These reductions would impact the number of
registered nurses (RN's) who provide support to the physicians
and FNP's in the above-noted clinics .
Staff Reductions : 3 Full Time Equivalent Physicians
2 Full Time Equivalent Family Nurse
Practitioners
2 Full Time Equivalent Registered Nurses
Resulting Planned Clinic Reductions
Pittsburg Health Center: 1 Full Time Equivalent Physician
1 Full Time Equivalent Nurse
Eliminate Following Clinics:
Monday Urgent Care 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Monday Allergy 1 : 00 p.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Tuesday Family Practice 8 : 00 a.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Wednesday Family Practice 8 : 00 a.m. - 5 :00 p.m.
Thursday Urgent Care 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Thursday Family Practice 1 :00 p.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Friday Family Practice 8 : 00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Richmond Health Center: . 50 Full Time Equivalent Physician
. 50 Full Time Equivalent Physician
. 50 Full Time Equivalent Nurse
Attachment .I ( cont. )
September 7, 1990
Eliminate Following Clinics :
Monday Family Practice 8 :00 a.m. - 5 :00 p.m.
Tuesday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5 :00 p.m.
Tuesday Urgent Care 1 :00 p.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Wednesday Laotian Clinic 1 :00 p.m. - 5 :00 p.m.
Thursday Family Practice 8: 00 a.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Friday Family Practice 8 : 00 a.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.
Martinez Health Center.: 2 Full Time Equivalent Family Nurse
Practitioners
Eliminate Following Two Clinics:
Monday-Friday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
Monday-Friday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
Specialty Services : . 50 Full Time Equivalent Physician
. 50 Full Time Equivalent Physician
. 50 Full Time Equivalent Nurse
Eliminate Following Clinics at Sites Noted:
Martinez
Tuesday Orthopedic 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Tuesday Rehab 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Wednesday EMG 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Thursday Orthopedic 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Thursday Rehab 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Friday Low Back 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Richmond
Monday Low Back 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Friday Orthopedic 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Pittsburg
Monday Orthopedic 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Patients Affected: Approximately 800 patients currently seen
at the reduced clinics will be assigned to other physicians
and FNP's throughout the system. Patients will continue to be
seen at the primary care site of services, e.g. , Brentwood,
Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, and Richmond. This reduction
may result in an increase in appointment waiting times up to
approximately two weeks .
Expected savings : $325, 000
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Attachment 2
October 9, 1990
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
REDUCTIONS
FISCAL YEAR 1990-91
Ambulatory Care services
This program provides primary care and specialty services to the
clients of the health Services Department. Clinic services are
generally between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. , Monday
through Friday.
Sites: Clinic sites: Martinez, 2500 Alhambra
Richmond, 38th & Bissell
Pittsburg, 550 School Street
Concord, 3052 Willow Pass Road
Brentwood, 118 Oak Street
This program is administered through the Division
of Hospital and Clinics of the Health Services
Department.
Nature of the Reductions or Changes: Approximately 52
physician hours would be reduced at Pittsburg, Martinez and
Richmond Health Centers. In addition, 80 family nurse
practitioner (FNP) hours would be reduced throughout the
family nurse practitioner clinic program at the same sites.
The reductions would impact the number of nursing personnel
who provide support to the physicians in the above-noted
clinics.
Staff Reductions: 1.30 Full Time Equivalent Physicians
2 .0 Full Time Equivalent Family Nurse
Practitioners
1.6 Full Time Equivalent Nurses
Resulting Planned Clinic Reductions
Pittsburg Health Center: .60 Full Time Equivalent Physician
.60 Full Time Equivalent Family
Nurse Practitioner
Eliminate Following Clinics:
Monday Urgent Care 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Monday Allergy 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Tuesday Family Practice 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday Urgent Care 8:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday Family Practice 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Attachr^ent 2 (cont. )
• -- -, -- _ =------_ ---_------ October 9 , 19110 �--J
Page 2
Richmond Health Center: .70 Full Time Equivalent Family
Nurse Practitioner
Eliminate Following Clinics:
Monday Family Practice 1:00 p.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Tuesday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday Urgent Care 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Wednesday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
.Thursday Family Practice 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Martinez Health Center: .70 Full Time Equivalent Physician
.70 Full Time Equivalent Family
Nurse Practitioner
1.6 Full Time Equivalent Nurses
Eliminate Following Clinics:
Monday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday Family Practice 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday Family Practice 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday Family Practice 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Friday Family Practice 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
,Specialty Services: .50 Full Time Equivalent Physician
(Note: Effective January 1, 1991)
Eliminate Following Clinics at Sites Noted:
Martinez
Tuesday Rehab 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Wednesday EMG 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Thursday Rehab 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Friday Low Back 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Richmond
Monday Low Back 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
patients Affected: Approximately 400 patients currently seen
at the reduced clinics will be assigned to other physicians
and FNP's throughout the system. Patients will continue to
be seen at the primary care site of services, e.g. , Brentwood,
Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, and Richmond. In addition, the
department may choose to adjust these reductions among the
health centers depending on the impact.
Expected annual savings: $ 325,000.