County health agency to receive funds

In November 2006 the California Department of Health Services announced the availability of $180 million in federal funds each year for a three-year period, beginning Sept. 1, 2007, for counties to expand healthcare coverage for the uninsured.

The Ventura County Health Care Agency will receive $10 million in federal funding for each of the next three years, for a total of $30 million.

In December 2006 the board of supervisors authorized the Health Care Agency to submit an application to the health department for the Health Care Coverage Initiative. The agency proposed to expand healthcare coverage for lowincome and uninsured residents by offering a comprehensive system of care called the Access Coverage Enrollment Program.

The program builds upon the existing county clinic system of primary and specialty care services, the Ventura County Medi

cal Center and Santa Paula Hospital, as well as a partnership with community clinics, to provide primary and preventive care to the uninsured of Ventura County.

The Health Care Agency will return to the board of supervisors in the coming weeks for official authorization to accept this award.