California: Panel OKs Mid-Year Health Cuts

The San Francisco Health Commission on March 4 voted 4-3 to approve about $19 million in mid-year reductions to the Department of Public Health's (DPH) fiscal 2008-09 budget. People living with HIV/AIDS would be among those affected by the budget recommendations. The move partly reflects Mayor Gavin Newsom's request that the department reduce its general fund budget by 8 percent, which would total $28.1 million, to help with the city's $233 million FY2008-09 deficit. At press time, the commission-backed cuts still needed approval by the mayor.

Chronic care public health nursing stands to lose about $2.2 million, one of the largest cutbacks. People with AIDS are among the patients these nurses visit. The commission made the recommendation reluctantly.

The Center for Special Problems, which provides mental health services to populations including people with HIV, also faces cuts. One would move six clinical directors to vacant positions within DPH and replace them with clinical managers. The center sees many clients who are uninsured, undocumented or on Medi-Cal, said Nan O'Conner, project coordinator for the center's HIV mental health case management program.

People are used to having rabbits pulled out of a hat to fix the budget during tight fiscal times, but "there aren't too many more rabbits," Commissioner Dr. Edward Chow said after the vote. "We're nowhere near the targeted amounts to meet the city's requirements," said Dr. Mitchell Katz, DPH's director.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin described the cuts as unilateral, and he noted that Newsom is refusing to spend money already appropriated by the board.

"We all recognize the need to reduce spending, but I think the budget still has to be collaborative," said Sup. Bevan Dufty, who represents the heavily gay Castro district.

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