Judge Assures CMS Funding Through June 30
One way or another, funding for the county’s medical care program for the uninsured and poor will continue through June 30, a judge said Thursday.
Attorneys for the state, county and Legal Aid met with Superior Court Judge Harrison Hollywood Thursday and agreed that, for the moment at least, county officials will continue funding the County Medical Services program.
However, Hollywood said he is inclined to sign an order next week that will make the state responsible for funding the program through the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The program is now funded by diverting money from other county programs.
The county is taking out $112,000 a day from other programs to fund CMS. The state previously funded the $41-million program, but cut its funding to $19 million when the Legislature approved the current state budget.
County officials will ask Hollywood next week to order the state to begin funding the entire program through June 30. Hollywood expressed optimism that a political solution for funding CMS on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, will be reached between county and state officials before the end of June.
On Thursday, Hollywood granted a request by the county to terminate June 30 a preliminary injunction that requires the county to fund the program.
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