UCSF-STANFORD MERGER: OVERSIGHT BILL CLEARS HURDLE
Legislation that would guarantee "legislative oversight ofThis is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
the financial records of the proposed merger" between the
University of California at San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF)
and Stanford Medical Center passed the State Assembly's Consumer
Protection, Government Efficiency and Economic Development
Committee yesterday. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE reports that the
bill "would require" the state Assembly and state Senate "budget
committees, the legislative analyst and the joint legislative
audit committee to inspect the financial records of the merged
hospitals to ensure that public money is being spent
appropriately." State Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D), the
bill's author, said, "We want to be sure that the money is used
to adhere to UCSF's original mission which is, of course, service
to poor and needy communities. This isn't a sledgehammer
approach" (5/7). The two academic medical centers announced
their plans to merge last May (see AHL 5/7/96).
PROVIDER RIDER: Meanwhile, doctors at UCSF who are
"nervous" about the planned merger and "rumors that Stanford is
discussing a partnership" with Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. "are
pushing for greater disclosure about the impact of the merger on
the future of research, education and patient care." By a 2-1
margin, the 900-member UCSF Academic Senate voted "for further
investigation of the merger." Dr. Stanton Glantz said, "We're
getting a very one-sided view of the whole undertaking. We need
to hear both sides so we can make an intelligent decision." SAN
FRANCISCO EXAMINER reports that it is still unknown whether the
faculty will support or oppose the deal. "If they decide to
oppose the merger," however, "it's unlikely that the doctors
could derail the plan." But their opinions could "certainly
influence the final vote" of the University of California
regents, which is scheduled for this summer (Krieger, 5/6).