Santa Barbara County approves plan to shift clinic blood draws and pharmacy services amid budget shortfall

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on June 16 approved a county health plan to change how some clinical services are delivered, accepting staff recommendations to end certain on-site blood‑draw services, contract out pharmacy dispensing in two cities, and transition several specialty clinics to community providers.

At a Bilson Act public hearing required under California law for reductions to county medical services, County Health Director Hamami said the proposals are intended to address a structural budget shortfall while preserving access. Hamami told the board the department has negotiated with commercial labs to provide phlebotomy (blood‑draw) services at nearby Quest and Pacific Diagnostic Laboratories locations without additional costs for patients, and has contracted with Walgreens locations to dispense prescriptions currently provided at county pharmacies in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. A countywide 24‑hour information line (805‑681‑5100) was established to support patients during the transition.

Why it matters: County staff said the changes will reduce operating costs while preserving core primary care and discount pricing under county pharmacy assistance programs. But labor groups and community advocates warned the changes could disrupt care for patients who lack insurance or face transportation barriers, and they questioned whether private referral providers will accept the county’s patient population.

What was proposed and approved

- Phlebotomy: The county will discontinue in‑house blood draws at the Lompoc and Santa Maria health centers and refer patients to contracted commercial labs that offer more consistent hours, according to Hamami. Staff said Quest and Pacific Diagnostic Laboratories (PDL) were negotiated as partners and that multiple nearby lab locations are within one to two miles of impacted clinics.

- Pharmacies: The county will consolidate on‑site dispensing to Lompoc Health Center and close pharmacies at the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria clinics; Walgreens stores in the region will be contracted to dispense prescriptions and county patient‑assistance programs will remain in effect, staff said.

- Specialty care: Certain specialty clinics at the Santa Barbara Health Center (nephrology, urology, neurology, gastroenterology) will be discontinued and patients will be transitioned to community specialists in the county’s provider network. County staff said 792 patients are served annually in those four specialties and that 635 (about 81%) have some form of health coverage.

Public reaction and board questions

Union representatives and community groups urged caution and asked the board to delay formal adoption until staff could confirm that community providers will accept Medi‑Cal (SenCal in staff presentation) and uninsured patients. SEIU Local 620 representative Laura Robinson said the proposed reductions “shift the burden onto our most vulnerable residents” and told the board that over 2,000 patients had yet to select a pharmacy option at the time of the hearing.

Residents also described concerns about transportation barriers and the loss of technicians and local pharmacy staff who manage complex medication needs and deliveries to clinic sites. Santa Barbara County Taxpayer Advocacy Center and other speakers pressed the board to ensure that all 792 specialty patients are successfully transitioned before any closures occur.

County staff response and monitoring

Hamami and transition teams told the board they have notified affected patients, assembled lists of referral specialists, and deployed case managers to coordinate medical record transfer and appointments. Staff said many referred specialists have agreed in writing to continue seeing county patients and that some are willing to offer sliding‑fee arrangements for self‑pay patients. County staff also emphasized that primary care and the county’s sliding‑fee discount and financial assistance programs remain available.

Board action and next steps

Following board questions and public comment, the supervisors approved the staff recommendations for the Bilson Act hearing (recommended actions A–C). The vote was recorded as unanimous. The motion directs county health to implement the transition plans, monitor patient outcomes, and report back to the board with updates on patient transitions, service continuity, and any access issues that emerge.

What to watch for next

Staff said they will report back on (1) how many of the 792 specialty patients have completed transitions, (2) whether community referral providers are accepting Medi‑Cal and uninsured patients at the agreed rates, and (3) whether any new costs or access gaps require further board action. Labor leaders and advocates requested follow‑up reports and asked the board to consider delaying closures if referrals are not fully in place.

Attribution: Quotes and descriptions in this article are drawn from public remarks and staff testimony at the June 16 Bilson Act hearing. Key attributions: County Health Director Hamami, Deputy Director Lindsay Walter, CFO Gus Maha, SEIU Local 620 (Laura Robinson), and multiple public commenters. Ending: The board approved the transition-focused recommendations; staff will implement the referrals and report back with metrics on patient transitions and any access problems.