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May 30, 2014 12:00 AM

Public health West Coast-style: L.A. forms a commission to watch the county

Steven Ross Johnson
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    Politics and public health clashed in Los Angles this week and, as a result, the city is forming a commission to oversee how Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health meets the public health needs of city residents.

    The newly firmed body, made up of 15 members appointed by council members, will assess the health services provided to the city by the county and publish an annual review for the council to evaluate.

    If the health commission finds that the services provided by the county do not meet the needs of the city, the council could cancel its contracts with the county and instead provide its own health services, which it did before transferring those responsibilities to the county in 1964.

    Creating the commission was a way for city leaders to avoid having to bring the issue up for a vote in a general election. Placing the measure up for a vote in a special election would have cost the city an estimated $5.5 million. Including it on the ballot of a statewide general election in November would have cost an estimated at $4.4 million, according to council documents.

    The ballot initiative was backed by a Los Angeles-based not-for-profit health services organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which originally sought to include a ballot measure for the creation on a city public health department. That proposal was struck down in January after the city and county reportedly sued successfully to have the issue taken off the ballot.

    “We need better health outcomes for the people of Los Angeles,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “I think this is an opportunity for L.A. to control its destiny.”

    AHF and other health advocates have argued for the city to form its own health department for years on the premise that doing so would better serve residents. Los Angeles administrative officer Miguel Santana was quoted by the L.A. Times last September as saying the formation of a city health department would cost the city more than $250 million a year to operate.

    Regarding whom he would like to see on the commission, Weinstein said it should be made up of a variety of vested health partners, including medical professionals and representatives from patient-rights groups, as well as those with a background in public administration.

    Weinstein himself said he would consider joining the commission if asked, but said he has not inquired about the possibility of becoming a member of the panel.

    Follow Steven Ross Johnson on Twitter: @MHsjohnson

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