Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/caloptima-board-of-directors/)
CalOptima provides health care for nearly 800,000 disabled, elderly and low-income Orange County residents. County supervisors are moving to expand their power on its board of directors, but state legislators are moving to block that effort.
The Orange County Taxpayers Association, backed by the medical industry, teamed with state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) to block a move led by Supervisor Andrew Do to have the supervisors take over the $3.4 billion CalOptima health plan for low income, disabled and elderly OC residents.
Fifteen finalists were chosen this week for the seven open seats on the CalOptima board of directors with the medical industry and political insiders dominating the list.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors this week again delayed adding a “public” representative to the board of directors of CalOptima, the health plan for low-income elderly and disabled residents.
CalOptima board indicates some health network contracts could be cancelled if they don’t move quickly to meet federal standards.
In sometimes unusually candid discussions during a strategic planning workshop, board members said the work is overwhelming and they’ve received little or no training.
Two campaign donors to Supervisor Janet Nguyen got seats, but another of her preferred candidates was passed over.