MARIN COUNTY: Newly Elected Health Care Board Favors Termination Of Sutter Lease
Members of the Marin County District Health Board who were opposed to Marin General Hospital's affiliation with Sutter Health are claiming victory in the power struggle that erupted over control of the hospital. While the board previously had three members opposed to the Sutter affiliation and two supporting it, the Nov. 3 election gave the anti-Sutter members a 4-1 majority. The board is attempting to wrest control of the hospital from Sutter, a nonprofit health care corporation that has a lease on the hospital. Last year, the district filed a lawsuit to break ties with Sutter Health, but the suit suffered "a major blow Sept. 28, when the Sacramento Superior Court threw out" a "critical piece" of the suit because of an expired statute of limitations. The San Francisco Business Times reports that "board member Linda Remy said the county has appealed the Sept. 28 decision, and will press forward." But "[w]hether those suits survive is ultimately up to the county boards in both Marin and San Mateo counties." San Mateo County could thwart Marin County's efforts, however, because the San Mateo board stands 3-2 in opposition to the lawsuit (Bole, 11/16 issue).
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