The Antelope Valley Times

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L.A. County expands access to health care for undocumented immigrants

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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to expand access to healthcare for residents who do not qualify under the Affordable Care Act, primarily undocumented immigrants.

My Health LA is a partnership between the county and local community clinics and health centers aimed at providing health care for every county resident. Clinics provide primary care services like screenings, physicals, chronic disease management and prescription medications. The Department of Health Services offers specialty care and more acute services. More than 150,000 residents get services under the program for free or at low cost.

Supervisor Hilda Solis praised the program as “one of the very few in the entire nation that exists that provides this kind of service.”

The terms of the partnership between the county and health care providers have been newly negotiated under contracts that Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said would allow My Health LA to enroll more residents, expand to more clinic sites over the next few months and guarantee more timely access to care.

Under the new terms, patients must be able to get an appointment for routine care within 21 days. Some now wait up to three months for a visit. Urgent primary care must be made available within 96 hours.

Kuehl and Supervisor Kathryn Barger recommended that the county also look at expanding access to substance abuse treatment and mental health care for My Health LA patients.

Free substance abuse treatment is available under the plan but is underutilized, so the supervisors directed staffers to explore why that’s true.

Options are limited for treating less severe, but prevalent mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The board also directed staffers to look at sources of funding to expand available treatment.

“Many of the residually uninsured may be afraid to take advantage, to say that they even have such an issue, given what the federal government is doing looking at our undocumented folks,” Kuehl said. “(And) if we’re inadvertently creating barriers for members who want to access substance and treatment services, we need to understand how the barriers are being created.”

Management of St. John’s Well Child & Family Center says it is the largest provider of health services to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and serves more than 25,000 county residents in the My Health LA program.

“This program is desperately needed,” St. John’s President and CEO Jim Mangia told the board. “This is a time when we need to be expanding immigrant health services. Our communities are under attack.”

Mangia thanked the board and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in particular for helping strike a working compromise, but said he’d still like to see the county do more, including expanded diabetes care.

The board’s vote in favor of the new contracts and in support of Kuehl and Barger’s motion was unanimous.

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Filed Under: Health, Politics

57 comments for "L.A. County expands access to health care for undocumented immigrants"

  1. The IRS estimates that undocumented immigrants also help make the Social Security system more solvent, as they pay into the system but are ineligible to collect benefits upon retiring. I, as well as many caring Americans want undocumented immigrants to get the care they need when they are sick, and need help. Compassionate humans doing the right thing for fellow humans.

  2. There are many Americans, including me, that understand how integral undocumented immigrants are to the U.S. economy. They provide essential farm help, including dairy farms, etc. they keep prices low, and without them you would be yelling even louder over high food prices. Yes, many Americans care about the health of undocumented immigrants, including me. So you can stay mad, and cry about how tough life is for you. I live surrounded by undocumented immigrants that are hard workers, kind, and friendly. I also feel safe, which is more than I can say about being around most of you hateful people.

    • The more come in the more you flip the bill and they get free stuff. You pay more taxes and they get freebies. Does not help Americans.

    • So maybe we should make all DEMOCRATS give up 50% of their income and you can pay for all the illegals out of your own wallet. You u not understand Americans are the ones getting screwed. YOU ARE FLIPPING THE BILL WHY THEY GET FREE STUFF!!!!

      • So, that “equal protection under the law” stuff…you oppose that too. Ron, seriously, is there ANYTHING in the constitution that you actually like?

      • Ron.. Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes in California. The facts are there for you to see, but you persist in spreading falsehood.

  4. Do you people understand the cost of this is going to be outrages. Now you will have illegals flood into Calif to get free stuff. Remember it all comes from your paychecks. You are the ones getting screwed and flipping the bill.

  5. Good thing it’s illegal for illegal aliens to receive any time of social services. California is an outlaw state defying the rule of law as usual. Criminals run our state.

    • Don’t let the door hit you on your way out. There are republican paradises aplenty for you to choose from. States with economies so badly damaged that only despondent white people on opiates live there. You’ll no doubt be welcomed.

    • RONJON…Why don’t you practice the principle, “love thy neighbor?” I don’t mean just your next door neighbor. Anyway, please check out federal law concerning undocumented immigrants, and health care.

      • Those who do not qualify under the Affordable Care Act, primarily undocumented immigrants, will be able to receive much needed help in a timely manner. There is already too much suffering going on in this world.

        • Crying Cali’s

          “UNDOCUMENTED”-The term ‘undocumented immigrant’ refer to foreign nationals residing in the U.S. without legal immigration status. It includes persons who entered the U.S. without inspection and proper permission from the U.S. government, and those who entered with a legal visa that is no longer valid. SO GO HOME AND GET HEALTHCARE, STOP USING OUR US DOLLARS FOR YOUR CARE !
          “NOT MY NEIGHBOR IS UNDOCUMENTED”

  6. TRUMPS PARTY AND CANDIDATES SUPPORTING HIM GOT WIPED OUT COMPLETELY IN CALIFORNIA JNCLUDING SHERIFF JIM MCDONELL FOR PROFILING HISPANICS THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT RACIST TRUMP IS AVTIMES COMMENTERS

  7. Lotta hate toward immigrants I see in these comments. I get it, Its not their country right? Are they illegally on the planet too? Or are we all just a bunch of greedy, selfish people who got LUCKY in life to be where we are and we just don’t want to share what we have with the other humans?

  8. This is just another way for the Supervisors to IMPOSE their will on their constituents…Nothing is FREE, ”We The People” are paying for the ”undocumented aliens” who break our laws to come here, merely for the FREE BENEFITS… It’s time we stopped being the ”bleeding hearts” & start following our LAWS… It’s against the FEDERAL LAW to harbor & abet anyone who is in our country illegally…So, please tell me, why are we paying for people who are NOT supposed to be here in the first place??.. We’re already paying for health care for ”illegal aliens” CHILDREN… How much more are we going to be REQUIRED (against our Will!) to pay for??

  9. Laughing
    U missed the part that is not written and purposely omitted. The county partnership is you, the taxpayer. They make the decisions, u pay for it. The medicine, the equipment, the supplies don’t pay for themselves and the health clinics do not have the money that is why the county is involved. Shortly after opening the county will come out and say they need money. Ding ding ding..,hello taxpayers !!!

    • I did not miss it. I addressed the subject the prior poster had brought up about citizens getting care.
      Everything costs money… everything.
      I would rather have healthy happy folks than sick ones that get depressed and end up doing dumb things.

  10. “The terms of the partnership between the county and health care providers…”

    I wonder if the health care providers include Kaiser and PIH.

      • Do you not understand you have to pay for it. It’s Americans who are getting screwed. How do we benefit from this? These people come in get free stuff why we flip the bill.

        • Since you asked…

          You benefit by not having sick people running around without health care. Dense populations where a large segment of the population don’t have access to health care breed plagues Ron, and as happy as I would be to see your demise I’m not interested in widespread disease making it happen.

        • Being healed when sick isn’t a privilege to be doled out to the wealthy. Its a basic human right.

          The reason I get so discouraged with the lack of empathy in this community is,

          There’s no way I can teach, argue, or successfully debate the fact that YOU SHOULD CARE about OTHER PEOPLE. I can’t make you care. So if you’re ok with people including children dying from curable diseases because their parents aren’t wealthy enough, I guess that works for you.

          Some of us are actually human beings, who feel for our fellow humans

  14. I’m Pretty sure Jesus would have been fine with this.

    Very interesting how republican/conservative values often go against the religious teachings that conservatives also claim to follow and value as well.

    So complain all you want AV conservatives. Your religion indicates healing the sick and feeding the hungry are the right things to do.

    Die mad about it.

    • John, go back and read your Bible a little more. You will find it was a much different society than today. If you were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, you were executed (crucified).

      You think the Republicans / Conservatives are the enemy of the world order you would like to see. Funny, before it was all about getting a voter base built up, Democrats / Liberals were all preaching border security and denial of benefits to those in the country illegally. It was not too long ago Hillary, Barack, Schumer, Pelosi and the rest were all preaching national security. Research a little.

      • Yes, all the LIBERALS voted for the ”Secure The Border” act… Now, they want more illegals to cross our borders so they’ll be officially ”Undocumented Democrats”… We need to Secure Our Borders from ”INVADERS” who claim mostly that they’re coming for a better life… They need to come LEGALLY, then we have no problem with them & know WHO they are…

        • Majority of illegals I have chatted with in the past few years lean Republican.
          Maybe if you talked to people in person you would have better data.
          Politicians lie, it is their ‘job’ since they can’t manage to be honest about how corrupt they ALL are.

          • Yes, the Politicians LIE, but their VOTES don’t!! I don’t know any ”illegals”, or if I do, they’re not saying…I would rather see these people come here Legally…

    • John C is obviously not a part of Wrecks’ efforts to destroy homeless camps, criminalize homelessness, and lining the pockets of his pals for so-called homeless housing that costs twice as much and houses only a fraction of what could have been done on Ave. I and 60th.

      John C for Lancaster mayor.

      • Nope, definitely not a fan of Rex. Just a former longtime AV residence with family ties to the community. I just would like to see a more empathetic and caring community, instead of the awful hate filled callous display and lack of humanity I usually find in this comment section.

        Don’t fancy myself a mayor either.

        • Illegals braking into our country and living on us is not emphatic to us is it?

          Why don’t you move to Mexico or some other 3rd world Central American country and see how they treat you. You are a true fool.

          • RonJON,
            Illegals break into our country, plural breaking
            Emphatic is not the same as empathetic, though your statement seems emphatic to me.
            Mexico is part of North America. Many Americans live south of our border and are welcome.

    • Then why don’t you give 50 % of your paycheck and pay for all the illegals. You pay with your own money!!!!

    • Who are you to say you know what Jesus would want?
      That is sacrilegious to use Jesus to win an argument. Is that how you are, you use your God like a tool to control others on how you think things should be.
      You should be ashamed of yourself.

      • Hey dummy. It’s documented what Jesus taught and thus obviously wanted from all people. Guess you never studied any Sermon on The Mount. Too bad for are left spiritually wanting until you start to understand practice the principles in all areas of . Word bro

        • You call me a dummy for calling out a sacrilegious zealot. You’re the one that needs to grow a brain or get educated as to what Christianity is and what Jesus was about. He wasn’t for people steeling and braking into countries as all illegals do. Get your facts straight.

          • RONJON…It’s not your call to call someone a sacrilegious zealot. Jesus isn’t a liberal or a conservative, He is holy. Yes, please practice the principles in all areas of the Living Word.

          • Zealot: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. Compassing land and sea searching for one proselyte. Synonyms: extremist, maniac, partisan, dogmatist, fanatic, bigot, radical, etc.

      • Im actually an Atheist. Im no zealot of any kind thank you. Just holding all you religious conservatives to account for what the teachings of YOUR religion say.

        • In my experience atheists are frequently the most annoying zealots. The apparent desperation to find agreement with their belief in the non-god often leads to the most extreme proselytizing.

          • Yeah, you’re absolutely correct Tim, its a lot of the reason Im an atheist, but not an “atheist activist”. I don’t believe in Christianity, or any other religion, and other people do. Good for them. Good for me. So long as no one is trying to use their religion to dictate what I do in my life, we’re good.

            I am familiar with zealous atheists you speak of and they annoy me to no end. The only reason I decided to share my lack of religion with you fine people, is because I was called a “sacrilegious zealot” in the comments above. Sacrilege and Blasphemy have no meaning to me. They may have meaning to others, but those words hold no meaning with me. I possess no zeal for my lack of belief.

            PS> I enjoy your work on this page Tim.

  16. Because homeless starving Americans don’t need healthcare. People working hard at jobs who can’t afford health care, don’t matter. The American people DO NOT MATTER!! God help us all.

    • You missed this part “My Health LA is a partnership between the county and local community clinics and health centers aimed at providing health care for every county resident. “