Judge's Order Blocks County from Making Healthcare Cuts
The Department of Health Services of the county of Los Angeles has been trying to cut 100 beds from L.A. County Hospital and to close the Rancho Los Domingos Rehab Center in Downey (it's a county center for chronically disabled patients).
A federal judge on Tuesday extended a temporary order barring county officials from cutting 100 beds at County-USC Medical Center.
U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper said the temporary order will remain in effect until she can issue a preliminary injunction.
The cash-strapped county Department of Health Services was set to eliminate the beds by June 30th, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other groups sued to prevent the cutback.
Well, in one way this sounds like good news, but make no mistake, the county is facing a desperate financial situation or the Health Department would never have considered such a move. It is very unlikely, to my mind, that more federal funds will become available for the county health care system (though we were bailed out with federal funds three years ago). What this probably means is that, if the county is forced to keep the hospitals open, cuts for city services, libraries, and the educational system will become even more drastic than they already are, and/or a special tax will be levied on all county residents to pay to keep the system open.
I don't see an easy answer to this one.
posted by Dr. Alice at #
