LA County Shutters 7 of 13 Public Health Clinics Due to Funding Cuts

The closures leave vulnerable populations with fewer options for affordable, comprehensive healthcare services.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Due to budget cuts at the federal, state, and local levels, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has eliminated clinical services at 7 of its 13 free public health clinic sites. The affected clinics will no longer provide vaccinations, STI testing and treatment, or tuberculosis diagnosis and care. County officials cited declining patient volumes and the expansion of Medi-Cal and federally qualified health centers as factors in the decision, but providers warn the closures will create hardship for at-risk and homeless residents who rely on these safety net services.

Why it matters

Public health clinics are a critical part of the healthcare safety net, serving low-income and uninsured residents who may have limited access to care. The closure of these clinics could leave vulnerable populations, including the homeless and those with infectious diseases, with fewer options for affordable, comprehensive healthcare services.

The details

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is ending clinical services at 7 of its 13 public health clinic sites: Antelope Valley, Center for Community Health (Leavy), Curtis R. Tucker, Hollywood-Wilshire, Pomona, Dr. Ruth Temple, and Torrance. The changes are the result of about $50 million in funding losses. County officials say they selected clinics with relatively lower patient volumes, and have referred patients to unaffected county clinics, nearby federally qualified health centers, or other community providers.

  • On Feb. 27, 2026, the LA County Department of Public Health eliminated services at six of its 13 free clinics.
  • Over the last month, the department has sent letters to patients about the changes and referred them to other healthcare providers.

The players

LA County Department of Public Health

The government agency responsible for providing public health services and operating a network of free clinics in Los Angeles County.

Dr. Anish Mahajan

Chief deputy director of the LA County Department of Public Health, who cited funding cuts as the reason for the clinic closures.

Mark Hood

Chief executive of Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles, a provider of healthcare services to the homeless community that expects to see more patients due to the clinic closures.

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What they’re saying

“That pushed us to make the very difficult decision to end clinical services at seven of our sites.”

— Dr. Anish Mahajan, Chief deputy director, LA County Department of Public Health (latimes.com)

“I hate to see any services that serve our at-risk and homeless community shut down. There's so much need out there, so it always is going to create hardship for the people that actually need the help the most.”

— Mark Hood, Chief executive, Union Rescue Mission (latimes.com)

What’s next

The LA County Board of Supervisors has backed a proposed half-cent sales tax measure that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for healthcare and public health services. Voters are expected to consider the measure in June.

The takeaway

The closure of these public health clinics highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining a robust healthcare safety net for low-income and uninsured residents, especially as funding sources become increasingly strained. The impact will likely fall hardest on the most vulnerable populations, underscoring the need for sustainable solutions to ensure access to essential public health services.