Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/ronald-r-diluigi/)
Officials offer little explanation as to why, after months of continuances, a controversial plan to add a second hospital industry representative to the CalOptima board was nixed by request of Health Care Agency chief.
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.
Lee Penrose of St. Judes was reappointed to a second four-year term. Supervisors, however, again put off naming someone to the seat reserved for a member of the public.
Supervisors were scheduled to vote for one of two candidates for the year-old vacancy in the “public” seat, but appear to be seeking more candidates as both of the top contenders have strong ties to the hospital industry.
Tuesday, county supervisors will pick between a longtime hospital lobbyist and a former lawyer for a hospital chain, which will give the industry two of the board’s 11 seats.