Active TB Treatment
Comprehensive care for all forms of tuberculosis disease.
- Diagnosis and medication management
- Expertise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB
- Ongoing monitoring and follow-up
About LA County's TB Specialty Clinic
The Los Angeles County TB Specialty Clinic is one of the largest public health TB treatment programs in the United States. Our physicians have been diagnosing and treating tuberculosis across the nation's most populous county for decades.
We manage the full spectrum of TB, from latent infection to the most complex multidrug-resistant disease. We partner with hospitals, community clinics, correctional facilities, and shelters across LA County to ensure no case goes untreated. For insured patients, payor authorization for clinical care at DPH is required before we can accept referrals. DPH receives state and federal funding to support core public health TB activities, including surveillance, contact investigation, and public health oversight. That funding does not cover the clinical care that health plans and their delegated medical groups are responsible for providing to their members.
We operate as a group practice. Over 20 physicians supported by nurses, pharmacists, radiologic technologists, lab specialists, and case managers, deliver every aspect of TB care in one integrated team. This means that patients do not need to navigate between separate providers for imaging, labs, pharmacy, or case management.
Our physicians have decades of combined TB experience, have expertise in infectious diseases, pediatrics, preventive medicine, and family medicine, and hold academic appointments at UCLA and USC. See our team directory for detailed profiles.
By the numbers
5
Clinic Sites
20+
Physicians
11,300
Annual Visits
150K
observed Treatments
Our Services
We provide a full continuum of TB-related care.
TB Infection Treatment
Evaluation and treatment of TB infection (latent TB infection/LTBI).
- Short-course treatment regimens
- Provider oversight and lab monitoring
On-Site Pharmacy
TB medications dispensed directly at the clinic.
- Specialty drugs including bedaquiline
- IND / IRB access for novel regimens
Chest X-Ray & Lab
Comprehensive testing and laboratory coordination.
- On-site radiography and induced sputum collection
- Cultures and tissue based molecular testing for drug resistance at our Public Health Laboratory
- Whole genome sequencing, extended DST, and other advance tests sent to CDPH and CDC laboratories
Directly Observed Therapy
Flexible treatment monitoring to improve adherence.
- In-person, video, and asynchronous options
- Nurse administered with physician oversight
Case Management
Coordinated support for every active TB patient.
- Dedicated public health nurse case manager
- Contact investigation
- Housing, transportation, and social support
Telehealth
Convenient virtual care options.
- Follow-up visits
- LTBI monitoring
- Medication checks
Immigration Health
Specialized services for newly arriving immigrants and refugees.
- Class B evaluations
- Dedicated navigators on staff
Contact Investigation
Identification of exposed individuals to prevent transmission.
- Epidemiologic investigation
- Testing, evaluation, and treatment
Provider Consultation
Partnership and support for community providers and hospitals.
- Warmline consultation
- E-consult support
- Co-management guidance
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Optimize TB treatment through individualized drug level testing.
- Individualized testing to optimize dosing, reduce toxicity, and improve outcomes.
- Essential for patients with drug resistant TB, malabsorption, renal impairment, drug interactions, or slow treatment response.
Clinic Locations
Our sites are located across Los Angeles County, and all sites provide the same standard of care. Please follow the instructions below to refer a patient to our clinics. Do not send them directly to the TB clinic as we do not see individuals without a referral.
Telehealth Available
Telehealth video visits are available for follow-up appointments and Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) monitoring.
How to Refer a Patient
We welcome referrals from any healthcare provider in Los Angeles County. We can consider referrals of patients with confirmed active TB disease, high clinical suspicion for TB, or complex TB infection (LTBI) for review by our TB Specialty Clinic. For insured patients, payor authorization for care at DPH is required before we can accept the referral.
Follow the steps below to report suspected or confirmed tuberculosis cases, consult with Public Health, and refer patients for TB clinical services. Please do not send patients directly to a clinic.
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Report the Case to Public Health
Report possible or proven TB disease cases to Public Health
- Outpatients: Submit a report via the CalREDIE Provider Portal (preferred) or a Confidential Morbidity Report of TB Suspects and Cases (for Non Hospitalized Patient). Check the Request Patient Management box on the form. For details, see the TB section of the Provider Reporting webpage.
- Inpatients: Submit a Confidential Hospitalized TB Suspect/Case Report H-803.
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Call our TB Consultation Line
If you have already been assigned a public health nurse case manager for your patient, please contact them first. For new patients please call 213-745-0800 Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.
You will first speak with a public health nurse with expertise in tuberculosis, and complex cases will be referred to a physician specializing in TB.
Be ready with the patient's name, date of birth, a brief clinical summary, and your questions.
You can call to discuss a case even if you are not sure that you want to make a referral.
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Refer for Clinical Services
We will review all referrals for TB Specialty Clinic care. For insured patients, we need to work with you and the patient’s health plan or medical group to obtain authorization before we can accept the referral and schedule care..
- Outpatients: If you requested "Patient Management" on the CMR, we will review the patient referral and contact you regarding next steps, including any authorization needed for TB Specialty Clinic care.
- Inpatients: Complete the Confidential Hospitalized TB Suspect/Case Discharge Care Plan/Approval Request H-804. This form may be filled out by your facility infection prevention specialist or case manager in conjunction with a Public Health TB Nurse. For more information, see Discharge and Transfer Guidelines for TB Patients and Suspects.
- Call the consult line If you need the status of a referral.
You do not need to transfer care to consult
Many providers call our warmline for advice while continuing to manage their own patients.
To manage active TB or high-risk suspected TB yourself please ensure the following requirements which must be attested to:
- It would be safe to do (no adherence concerns, confirmed drug supply, etc)
- You are comfortable clinically
- You have appointment availability for monitoring or complications
- You can meet the Health Officer’s reporting and coordination legal requirements
FAQs
When should I refer versus manage TB myself?
We welcome referrals of patients with confirmed active TB disease or high clinical suspicion for TB. For insured patients, payor authorization for care at DPH is required before we can accept the referral.
Not every patient with TB needs to transfer care to DPH. Patients may remain with a community physician who has the capacity and skill to manage TB, including the timely monitoring and management of complications, and DPH will support you with nursing case management and oversight. Care coordination with DPH is essential to achieve good outcomes and we appreciate your cooperation.
For TB infection (LTBI), referral is appropriate if you are unfamiliar with current treatment regimens or need help with medication access or side effects, or if the patient has complex comorbidities (for example, HIV, liver disease, or immunosuppression) or is a child under 5. Resources to help you manage TB infection are available here: http://ph.lacounty.gov/tb/providertoolkit.htm.
What if my patient has commercial insurance or Medi-Cal?
For insured patients, we will work with the health plan or responsible medical group to obtain authorization for TB Specialty Clinic care. Please provide insurance information with the referral and assist with prior authorization when requested. Our goal is to provide care for as many referred patients as possible. If the health plan does not authorize care at DPH, we may not be able to accept the referral. We will notify you and continue to support TB case management and public health oversight while an appropriate care pathway is established.