Beginning in 2020, integration efforts between the departments continued through the newly-formed Alliance for Health Integration. Since March 2023 the AHI office has not been independently staffed although integration efforts of the three health departments remain a Board-Directed Priority and are still referred to as AHI efforts.[4] The continuing AHI reports made to the Board are now delivered by the Department of Health Services.[5]
Structure
The Health Agency was led by Mitchell H. Katz from 2015 to 2017.[6] Fred Leaf began serving as interim director in December 2017 and was appointed director beginning January 22, 2019.[7][8]
On February 18, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed the three health departments to continue integration efforts through the Alliance for Health Integration.[9][10][11] The staffing and infrastructure costs of the Alliance were pooled with 50% from the Department of Health Services, 35% from the Department of Mental Health, and 15% from the Department of Public Health with the chair of the Alliance rotating annually between the three health department directors.[12] On March 1, 2023, the seven Alliance for Health Integration staff were transferred to the Department of Mental Health.[13] The Alliance for Health Integration remains the term used by the County for a current Board-Directed Priority directing its three Health Departments to cooperate "on key health integration activities".[4]
Budget and Employees
In FY 2015–16, the three departments comprising the Los Angeles County Health Agency had a combined annual budget of US$6,942,989,000, constituting about 25% of the county's total annual budget.[14][15] The county's 31,887 health employees were tasked to the County Health Agency.[16]
History
From 1972 to 1978, the Los Angeles County Department of Health (now the Department of Health Services) provided the full continuum of physical, mental and public health services and functions.[17][18] However, in 1978, the county established the Department of Mental Health to provide behavioral health services, amid concerns that funding for mental health services was being diverted to the county's hospitals.[14][19] In 2006, the Department of Public Health was separated from the Department of Health Services, during a major budget deficit.[19][14]
On January 13, 2015, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors publicly directed the Chief Executive Office to assess the feasibility of consolidating the county's three health departments into a single unified health agency.[20] This was preceded by correspondence between the Board and Mitchell Katz, the then current director of Health Services, who had submitted a confidential proposal to integrate the three departments on January 2, 2015.
[21][22]
On October 6, 2015, the Board adopted an ordinance to create the Health Agency, effective November 5, 2015.[23] The proposal was criticized by community advocates, providers, and labor unions, who have argued that physical health services would be prioritized above mental and public health services, and potential conflicts of interest.[24][25][19] The Health Agency is led by the Health Agency Director, who oversees, manages, coordinates, monitors and evaluates the Agency's programs and services.[26]
