Los Angeles County Health Agency

The Los Angeles County Health Agency is Los Angeles County's consolidated health agency, comprising the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the United States' second largest municipal hospital system, Mental Health, the United States' largest municipal mental health system, and Public Health.[1] The Health Agency was established to coordinate and streamline the County's physical health, public health, and behavioral health care services, programs, and policies under a single integrated system of care.[2][3] The Health Agency is presently led by Fred Leaf as interim director.[4]

Los Angeles County Health Agency
Agency overview
FormedNovember 5, 2015 (2015-11-05)
JurisdictionLos Angeles County
Employees31,887
Annual budgetUS$6.942 billion
Agency executive
  • Fred Leaf, Interim Director
Parent agencyLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Child agencies
Websitehealthagency.lacounty.gov

In FY 2015-16, the three departments comprising the Los Angeles County Health Agency had a combined annual budget of US$6,942,989,000, constituting about 25% of the County's total annual budget.[5][6] The County Health Agency employs 31,887 employees.[7]

History

From 1972 to 1978, the Los Angeles County Department of Health (now the Department of Health Services) provided the full continuum of physical, mental and public health services and functions.[8][9] However, in 1978, the County established the Department of Mental Health to provide behavioral health services, amid concerns that funding for mental health services was being diverted to the County's hospitals.[5][10] In 2006, the Department of Public Health was separated from the Department of Health Services, during a major budget deficit.[10][5]

On January 13, 2015, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors publicly directed the Chief Executive Office to assess the feasibility of consolidating the County's three health departments into a single unified health agency.[11] This was preceded by correspondence between the Board and Mitchell Katz, the then current director of Health Services, who had submitted a confidential proposal to integrate the three departments on January 2, 2015. [12][13]

On October 6, 2015, the Board adopted an ordinance to create the Health Agency, effective November 5, 2015.[14] The proposal was criticized by community advocates, providers, and labor unions, who have argued that physical health services would be prioritized above mental and public health services, and potential conflicts of interest.[15][16][10] The Health Agency is led by the Health Agency Director, who oversees, manages, coordinates, monitors and evaluates the Agency's programs and services.[17]

During the COVID-19 pandemic the department was criticized for its handling of nursing homes.[18]

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See also

References
  1. "LA County Health Agency" (PDF). Integration Advisory Board. November 23, 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  2. "Health Integration". County of Los Angeles. 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  3. "Chapter 2.73 - LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH AGENCY". Los Angeles County Code. Municode. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. https://healthagency.lacounty.gov/leadership/
  5. Abram, Susan (10 August 2015). "L.A. County board to consider consolidating three health departments". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  6. "County of Los Angeles 2015-16 Final Budget" (PDF). County of Los Angeles. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  7. "County of Los Angeles Annual Report 2015-16" (PDF). County of Los Angeles. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  8. Li, Alexander (April 20, 2016). "Los Angeles County Health Agency" (PDF). County of Los Angeles. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  9. "Motion by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich" (PDF). County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  10. Sewell, Abby (11 August 2015). "L.A. County supervisors move to consolidate three health agencies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  11. "Final Report on Possible Creation of a Health Agency (Item No. 2, Agenda of January 13, 2015 and Item No. 2, Agenda of March 3, 2015)" (PDF). County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  12. Katz, Mitchell (22 January 2015). "Mitch Katz memo on health department consolidation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  13. Sewell, Abby (22 January 2015). "L.A. County health director outlined planned department merger in memo". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  14. "Ordinances for Adoption" (PDF). Statement Of Proceedings. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. October 6, 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  15. Sewell, Abby (29 September 2015). "L.A. County forms health 'super agency,' but some fear it will be unwieldy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  16. Sewell, Abby (29 September 2015). "L.A. County merging three health-related departments into mega agency". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  17. "Approve the Introduction and Schedule for Adoption an Ordinance to Create a Health Agency and Establish an Ordinance Position for the Health Agency Director" (PDF). County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  18. Dolan, Jack (2020-05-28). "California requires universal testing at nursing homes, overruling L.A. County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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