Letter: Districts support for county Health System

I’m writing in response to the March 26 column by Sue Lempert about the role of health care districts in our community. The column noted the challenges the county faces in meeting the health care needs of a growing number of residents without health insurance.

San Mateo County has more than 100,000 residents in public health coverage programs that provide access to basic health care for many who otherwise would not get needed medical care. I would like to clarify a few facts about what support the health care districts have provided to the San Mateo County Health System.

For the past five years, Sequoia Healthcare District has provided between $1.6 million and $2 million each year to the Health System to support health care for uninsured adults living within its district. It also contributed $4.3 million to a new, consolidated county primary care clinic in its district.

Both the Sequoia Healthcare and the Peninsula Health Care districts have supported health insurance coverage for low-income children, with Sequoia providing $1.35 million this year and Peninsula providing $1.5 million. In addition, for FY 12-13, both health care districts are supporting specialized paramedic response for residents experiencing crises involving mental health issues ($40,000 from Peninsula, $60,000 from Sequoia) and the Peninsula Health Care District is supporting a residency program that trains clinicians in community psychiatry ($125,000 per year/$500,000 over four years).

Jean S. Fraser

Chief, San Mateo County Health System