O.C. Grand Jury rips Supervisor Janet Nguyen for wrecking CalOptima

From the OC Politics Blog

In the wake of a blistering report by Orange County’s Grand Jury that raised troubling questions about hospital lobbyists writing controversial changes to the county’s $1.5 billion health plan for the poor and then fundraising for Supervisor Janet Nguyen, a majority of her colleagues Friday said they supported changing the board governance for CalOptima, according to the Voice of OC.

“While not naming names, the report criticizes county Supervisor Janet Nguyen for her role in remaking CalOptima after she joined its board two years ago. Lobbyists from the Hospital Association of Southern California were allowed to rewrite the county’s ordinance that governs CalOptima to give more control to health-care providers “and less to members and organizations representing members,” the report says, without naming the lobbying organization,” according to the O.C. Register.

This withering report could tank Nguyen’s plans to run for the 34th State Senate District in 2014.  Here is the Orange County Grand Jury’s report summary:

CalOptima provides healthcare for one out of three children in Orange County. That’s correct!!! One-third of Orange County’s children depend on CalOptima for their healthcare needs. In addition, CalOptima is responsible for the healthcare needs of one in five senior citizens and one in seven Orange County residents. It should also be pointed out that the 427,000 plus Members are either United States citizens or documented aliens. Projections for Membership growth in 2014 when the Affordable Health Care Act takes effect are as high as 27% or 540,000 Members.

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