UCSF STANFORD: Legislature Okays Probe into Merger

      The state Joint Legislative Audit Committee yesterday "unanimously approved a request to investigate the financial losses plaguing UCSF Stanford Health Care," the San Jose Mercury News reports. The "three- prong effort" will investigate what some legislators believe is "bureaucratic bumbling that may end up costing UCSF Stanford Health Care $185 million over two years." State Sen. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) said, "UCSF Stanford Health Care is awash in red ink, and much of the ink is inexplicable." Legislators have been concerned since the health system in December reported a first quarter loss of $11 million and predicted a total loss of $60 million for the year. Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) also noted that "[t]here were some misrepresentations" regarding the layoff of staff, as some oncology nurses and kidney dialysis operators were targeted for dismissal after legislators were told that "only non-medical staff would be let go." UCSF Stanford had no comment on the Legislature's action (Jordan, 7/8).