Villery v. Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles

CV 95-5714 JGD (SHx) (C.D. Cal. Sept. 29, 1995). ; Clearinghouse Number: 51163

Description

Residents Voluntarily Dismiss Challenge to Proposed Cutbacks in Health Care Services in Los Angeles County

Abstract

Following an announcement that the federal government would give more than $300 million to Los Angeles County to help with its health care crisis, plaintiff low-income residents voluntarily dismissed this suit challenging defendant county officials’ proposed cutbacks of $655 million in the county’s health care system. Defendants had proposed to eliminate most outpatient care by closing all 6 of the county’s comprehensive health care centers and 29 of its 38 public health centers and by curtailing 75 percent of patient visits at the outpatient specialty clinics of the 6 hospitals. Plaintiffs claimed that defendants’ plan violated (1) the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which require that patients with disabilities have equal access to county health services and that services be provided in the most integrated setting; (2) federal Medicaid and Medicare laws, which require certified hospitals to arrange for follow-up treatment and care of patients after hospital discharge; (3) the Due Process Clause, which requires that patients have meaningful notice and a hearing before termination or reduction of medical services; and (4) state law requiring the county to provide health care to the poor. Counsel notes that, a few days before the cutbacks were scheduled to begin on October 1, 1995, President Clinton announced that over $300 million in federal funds would be made available to Los Angeles County to address the crisis in its health care system.

Additional Information

Attorney Information
Plaintiffs represented by Beth Osthimer, San Fernando Legal Services, 13327 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331, (818) 896-5211; Lew Hollman; Melinda Bird, Marilyn Holle, Susan Berke Fogel, Elena Ackel, Yolanda Arias, Yolanda Vera, Mark Rosenbaum, Silvia Argueta, Kirk McInnis, Marjorie Shelvy, John Rittmayer.
Docket Date
1995-09-29 00:00:00+00:00