Mildred Gonzales

This annual report for the Los Angeles County Hospitals and Health Care Delivery Commission, covering June 2024 to May 2025, outlines strategic priorities including CalAIM, Quality of Care, and DHS Workforce. It details efforts to advance CalAIM objectives, improve quality metrics, patient experience, and access to care, and address critical workforce challenges in training, recruitment, and retention. The report aims to enhance the delivery of high-quality healthcare services across Los Angeles County.

The meeting commenced late after quorum was established. Key discussions centered on a presentation by the Chief Communications Officer regarding challenging communications efforts in 2025, including responses to LA fires, federal cuts, and the budget crisis. Initiatives covered internal/external communications strategies, responses to immigration enforcement concerns, and updates on the Save our Safety Net (SOS) campaign. Following the presentation, commissioners discussed the results of a site visit to LA General, detailing its critical services like the public burn unit and NICU, the hospital's payor mix, and initiatives to increase revenue amidst budget concerns. The status of the Augustus Hawkins move and the Restorative Care Village projects were reviewed. The Commission agreed that the 2026 strategic priority would focus on the DHS budget crisis/Save our Safety Net efforts, emphasizing internal/external communications and alternative funding/philanthropy. Discussions also touched upon future commission guest speakers and the Department of Health Services Dashboard.

The 'Housing for Health' strategic program in Los Angeles County aims to reduce homelessness, improve health outcomes, and decrease healthcare costs for individuals with complex conditions experiencing homelessness. It employs an integrated 'housing first' approach, providing permanent supportive housing with rental subsidies, interim housing, specialized primary care, and comprehensive case management services. The program prioritizes vulnerable populations, focusing on harm reduction and trauma-informed care, and seeks to achieve significant reductions in acute care service utilization and overall net cost savings.

This policy brief outlines the Homeless Care Support Services (HCSS) and Tenancy Support Services (TSS) programs under the Whole Person Care- Los Angeles initiative, aimed at reducing acute healthcare utilization and increasing primary and preventive care for patients experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. The programs utilize permanent supportive housing, intensive case management with low client-to-case manager ratios, a 'whatever it takes' model, and community partnerships. Key outcomes include significant reductions in inpatient hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and an increase in primary care usage among participants.

The meeting addressed the financial state of DHS, revealing a $150 million deficit for FY 24-25 due to rising costs and decreasing revenues. Discussions covered strategies to increase revenue, such as implementing a new revenue cycle management system and exploring philanthropic fundraising, as well as cost-cutting measures like flexible staffing models and better vendor management. The commission also discussed proposed changes to the commission's by-laws, the annual report, commission site visits, proposed speakers for 2026, strategic priorities, DHS dashboard, and state and federal legislative policy updates. Public comments were received regarding transparency around hospital and clinic closures.