Los Angeles Health Clinics Struggle With Budget Impasse

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California's budget impasse has Los Angeles County health clinics taking out loans in a struggle to make ends meets.

The Watts Health Center, where about 40 percent of patients are covered by Medi-Cal payments amounting to $600,000 a month, is among seven area health clinics that got short-term loans to cover stalled state reimbursements.

The Los Angeles Times says the Watts center has nearly exhausted its $1 million line of credit and the short-term $1.5 million loan will last about two months.

Loans were made from a $22 million fund created by the California Primary Care Association, California Healthcare Foundation, Catholic Healthcare West, Mercy Investment Services, NCB Capital Impact and Sutter Health.

California is in its third month of the fiscal year without a spending plan.

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