$783 Million OKd for Health Care, Social Services

Beginning three days of public hearings on the 1997-98 budget, Orange County supervisors on Monday tentatively approved spending $783 million for health care, social services and community service programs.

Much of the discussion focused on a contract with health care providers covering medical services for the county’s poor.

Thanks to a recovering economy that is generating more tax dollars, the state’s contribution in the next budget year will increase 16% over the current year to $38.8 million.

Supervisors approved the spending and agreed to set aside more of the money to help pay private doctors for the care they give to the poor.

In hopes of shifting indigent medical care away from expensive hospital emergency rooms and into doctors’ offices, payments to private doctors will rise by about 50% over the current year’s level.

The upcoming medical contract, which will be discussed more fully Sept. 9, also includes a new eligibility verification program, including a check of citizenship status, that will “ensure that only those who are truly needy and legally eligible” qualify, board Chairman William G. Steiner said.

Budget hearings continue today with discussions on public protection, including court funding, environmental resources and general government services.

While supervisors focused on indigent medical services Monday, many of the speakers attending the public hearing wanted to talk about funding for mental health programs.

Clay Bock of Concerned Parents and Citizens of Garden Grove, as well as four other speakers, questioned why more money was being funneled to the Children and Youth Mental Health Services department, whose director, Dr. Bernard Rappaport, has been criticized by the county Juvenile Justice Commission for medication practices at the county-operated Orangewood Children’s Home.

Supervisors didn’t comment on the concerns.

At one point, Steiner asked a speaker not to castigate Rappaport by name.

“They didn’t respond in any way whatsoever,” Bock complained at the close of the hearing. “What bothers me is that they keep giving this program more money and there’s no accountability.”

The bulk of county spending tentatively approved Monday--$526 million for community and social services--passed after only brief discussion.

The money represents 14% of the county’s total budget and comes mostly from locally generated tax dollars.

At the start of the meeting, Supervisor Jim Silva attempted to persuade his colleagues to move $8.1 million earmarked for a county “strategic planning” account into a fund to be used to pay off bankruptcy bonds.

“It seems to me it would send the right message,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said in joining Silva’s motion.

But Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson noted that the county had already set aside an extra $24 million to pay off bankruptcy bonds.

The remaining supervisors agreed, siding against the motion.