The California legislature created health care districts in 1946 with a mandate to improve health care in their communities. District Administrators are generally elected, the elected officials whose sole task is to promote the health and well-being of the residents of the communities served by the district- 37 of 79 no longer work in hospitals (2017 report)
Healthcare areas arose in the wake of World Word II. American soldiers returned from the war in need of extensive medical treatment and hospitalization often. California was in the grip of a severe shortage of hospital beds. Large parts of the country did not have access to needed health care services.
The legislature responded to this hospital shortage by enacting the Local Hospital District Act. In 1994, its name was changed to “Healthcare Districts” reflecting the increasing provision of health care outside the hospital setting. The Healthcare District Act allowed communities to form special zones to build and operate hospitals and other healthcare facilities to meet local needs. Communities were allowed to impose property tax assessments, with voter approval, to help support community hospitals and health care services. The first health care districts were formed in 1946 and 1947. (The California Federation of Health Care Districts was originally organized in 1951 to promote the success of health care districts by providing guardian education and being an effective legislative advocate.)
As of 2019, there were 79 healthcare districts. 42 of those 79 districts operate 47 hospitals within their district boundaries. Fifteen healthcare districts have either leased or sold their hospital facilities to for-profit or not-for-profit health systems but still provide health-related services to people within their district boundaries.
Some HCDs attract attention due to competition for scarce property tax dollars and are therefore open to criticism if the LAFCo (Local Area Formation Committee), grand jury, or others conclude that they are not in the public interest. LAFCo is responsible for conducting a provincial municipal service audit every 5 years and the most recent for MCHCD was in 2014.
Many hospitals owned and operated by health care districts are considered rural by the state of California. This represents nearly 50% of the state’s rural hospitals. They are the primary source of inpatient, outpatient and emergency care for rural Californians and employees in the agriculture, fishing, mining, and lumber industries. They provide a significant portion of health care-related services to underserved areas of the state, which include minority populations, the underinsured, and the uninsured. Some areas are “Community Health Districts” and do not operate hospitals.
In recent fiscal years, the vast majority of county hospitals have experienced financial losses ranging from $100,000 to more than $10,000,000,000. Over the past six years, five healthcare districts have filed for public entity bankruptcy reorganization (“Chapter 9”) and two hospitals have already ceased operations.
The counties had, and still have, the authority to “do any and all things necessary, and to make use of” any kind of health promotion services or health care facilities. Specifically, counties can support the following: Health care facilities, including substance abuse and mental health programs. free outpatient and clinic service, programs for the elderly, including transportation; Training nurses assign ambulance services physician health education programs, and a variety of wellness and rehabilitation activities. In short, the law permits all that is “necessary to maintain good physical and mental health in the communities served by the provinces.”
The Mendocino Coast Healthcare District was formed in the early 1970s in order to build the hospital. Prior to this, two hospitals operated in Fort Bragg (and four others in Willits and Ukiah). The board of directors is elected by the voters of the district. Health care districts must file annual financial reports with the California Comptroller and comply with all state laws governing public records, record-keeping, elections, and public access to documents.
The district covers the same areas as the two coastal school districts – from Westport to Elk. Currently, the Ministry of Health, Children and Children, with voter approval, has leased the hospital to Adventist Health. Information about the lease is available through the MCHCD website. Affiliation with Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Health Care (specialdistrict.org)
— Paula Cohen, Co-Chair, League of Women Voters of Mendocino County
from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/what-is-a-healthcare-district-fort-bragg-news-attorney/
No comments:
Post a Comment