Orange County Grand Jury
• 2012-2013
CalOptima Burns While Majority of Supervisors Fiddle
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
A majority of Orange County’s five Board of Supervisors have failed to take an active role in preserving an entity playing a vital role in the healthcare needs of the County’s young, disabled, low income and senior residents. Sadly, 20 months ago, CalOptima received glowing reviews from Member organizations, politicians and government officials at all levels and was an entity Orange County’s residents could be proud of.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Directors of CalOptima should include more than one County Supervisor. This would minimize potential conflict of interest and reduce any opportunity for CalOptima to be used for political gain or to advance personal agendas. The entity is larger than OCTA, which currently has all five Supervisors on its Board.
F2
A Board of Supervisors majority permitted an organization that is a registered lobbyist in Orange County and Los Angeles County to not only write a County ordinance, but have final approval of its language.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Remove County employees from the Board of Directors of CalOptima since they report to the CEO of Orange County, who is selected by the Board of Supervisors.
F3
Member organizations have expressed fear of retaliation if they do not support certain causes or candidates and the Board of Supervisors majority has not attempted to curtail or dispel these fears.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
In order to attract more qualified individuals to fill vacant positions, offer salaries and incentive packages that are competitive in the healthcare industry.
F4
A majority of the five Supervisors have allowed CalOptima senior executives, highly qualified individuals who performed their duties with passion and a belief they were making a difference, leave highly specialized positions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Educate CalOptima’s Board of Directors on the agency’s role now and in 2014; why it operated effectively as a hybrid between private industry and County agency; its relevance to the County’s less fortunate’s well-being and healthcare needs and why CalOptima should be free from lobbyists and those who want to use it for political gain.
F5
A CalOptima Board member and two CalOptima lawyers have been disruptive and created an atmosphere that according to current and former CalOptima employees is ―unsafe for senior executives.‖
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Ensure CalOptima Board members reaffirm their accountability to Members, Member organizations, staff and each other and refrain from leaking closed session details or partial reports to the media. .
F6
Having a single Supervisor on the CalOptima Board lends to a perception of intimidation either real or perceived. County employees are reluctant to vote against a Supervisor.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Several current CalOptima Board members and recent hires lack the healthcare experience to understand the complexity of CalOptima as proven by their comments and questions during CalOptima Board meetings.
No recommendations for this finding
Agency Responses 2
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.