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The Office of County Health Services (OCHS) is part of the Department of
Health Services, Health Information and Strategic Planning
Division, and supports the provision of indigent care, environmental
health, and other public health services by local health departments. OCHS
provides Federal and State funding for
these services and related administrative activities, as well as technical
assistance to local health programs. Funding
for providing both inpatient and outpatient medical services to low-income persons not
eligible for Medi-Cal, or medically indigent
adults, in the 34 small, rural counties is provided through the Rural Health Services Program, and the Hospital Services and
Physician Services contract back programs. Financial support for indigent medical services
for children and adults in the 24 large counties is provided through the California
Healthcare for Indigents Program. Reimbursements for medical treatment of conditions
identified in health screens performed through local Child Health and Disability
Prevention programs are made through the OCHS' Children's Treatment Program. In addition,
the Medically Indigent Care Reporting System is maintained by the OCHS to improve the
availability of and accessibility to data and information on California's medically
indigent populations.
The OCHS also provides environmental health, public health nursing, and other public
health services for 11 small, rural counties through the Local Public Health Services
Program. Two other public health programs administered by the OCHS are: 1) the State
Public Health Subvention Program, which provides funding to eligible city and county
health departments to supplement their public health program operations and services; and
2) the Health Incentive Program, which provides funding to local health agencies for
disease prevention and health promotion programs and services in priority areas designated
by the federal Healthy People 2000/2010 initiatives.
Beginning
in fiscal year 2000-01, OCHS is providing funds for uncompensated emergency physician
services for the medically indigent population in the 58 counties. Physicians are
reimbursed for services through the Emergency Medical
Services Appropriation.
Nancy E.
Hayward, Chief
Office of County Health Services
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