Supervisors move to pursue expansion of little-used county medical program

San Diego County supervisors are pressing forward with potential changes to an obscure county-run program that labor unions want to fund with a new sales tax hike.

They could bring an overhaul of eligibility for a county program that pays for health care for certain low-income residents deemed “medically indigent” — the most restrictive such program among California’s biggest counties.

State law requires counties to operate and fund such programs to subsidize care for low-income people who don’t qualify for other programs like Medi-Cal. But San Diego County’s has long come with restrictions that others lack.

To enroll in County Medical Services, participants must have a lien put on their home and must be U.S. citizens. Many other counties — including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento — don’t consider immigration status.

“Our antiquated CMS system is not a badge of pride,” said Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. “Today’s action ensures we are rebuilding a system that is equitable, accessible and responsive.”

At a meeting on Tuesday, supervisors voted to direct staff to explore making changes to the program’s eligibility criteria as well as how to publicize it more in the community.

County staff will have to bring back recommended updates to the progra...