Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/julie-puentes/)
Whitney Secor Ayers, a new vice president of the Hospital Association of Southern California, has been warned twice this year about violating the county’s policy on lobbying by former employees.
The jury also reportedly insists that the CalOptima board, not its staff, reply to the jury’s scathing criticisms issued last month.
The report raises troubling questions about hospital lobbyists writing ordinance changes to CalOptima, the county’s $1.4-billion health plan for the poor and elderly, and the health industry’s campaign cash connections to county Supervisor Janet Nguyen.
The Hospital Association of Southern California sees the controversial 3-2 vote earlier this year by county supervisors changing CalOptima’s governing ordinance as spot on.
“Tribute to Supervisor Janet Nguyen” comes after her successful
drive to get the hospital industry a permanent seat on CalOptima
board.
A statewide experiment is aimed at cutting costs and
streamlining care for people eligible for both Medi-Cal and
Medicare.
Hospital association representative Julie Puentes argues that
checks are needed on the “heavy hand” of government.
This move shows that the Republican board is not shying away
from the highly partisan issue of national healthcare reform.
As landmark healthcare reform begins its journey from the
drawing board to reality in the U.S., Orange County Supervisor John
Moorlach could play a big role in its implementation here.
Under a new contract with local hospitals, the county will not
recruit more people for its health care programs until funding is
secured.
