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Major Cuts in County Health Care Foreseen
Finances: Officials may propose eliminating thousands of jobs and converting two hospitals into clinics to cope with the budget deficit.
By CHARLES ORNSTEIN and NICHOLAS RICCARDI
TIMES STAFF WRITERSMay 2 2002
Los Angeles County health officials will recommend "draconian" cuts next month, possibly including thousands of job cuts and conversion of two of its six public hospitals into clinics, officials said Wednesday.
The proposals are intended to narrow a budget deficit that is expected to reach $688 million in three years. Though the details are in flux, officials are considering proposals to convert High Desert Hospital in the Antelope Valley and possibly one more hospital into outpatient facilities. Another option is moving Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, a rehabilitation center in Downey, out from under the county Department of Health Services so that it would become self-supporting. Cutbacks at other hospitals are likely.
Dr. Thomas Garthwaite, director of the health services department, said Wednesday that several thousand jobs would be cut if the county cannot get more federal money. "I don't see any way around it unless there were a massive infusion of funds," he said. "The money's got to come from somewhere."
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the cuts are likely to be "draconian."
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