The Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (PMHD) Board of Directors has voted to oppose Assembly Bill 918 unless changes are made.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia at the request of the City of El Centro and El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), would create one hospital district that would encompass all of Imperial County. The PMH Board said that county stakeholders, PMHD, ECRMC, and Heffernan Memorial Hospital District (HMHD) in Calexico, began the process to expand the district earlier this year. PMHD submitted an application to the Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO) to achieve a unified district. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors pledged to support that effort. Pioneers and Heffernan supported this plan but El Centro backed out.
Pioneers Board said that they do not support taking on ECRMC's debt of over $150 million. They also do not support a district expansion that maintains current taxes, without taxing expanded areas equally. The Pioneers Board also does not support placing current members of the ECRMC Board on the new district board. They also oppose the fact that local citizens have been excluded from the process.
The PMH Board said they do support the formation of a countywide health district with support through LAFCO and a board structure that is chosen by voters and represents the county. Pioneers also said they do support one health system with multiple campuses.
The Pioneers Board pointed out that their concerns also are based on the current financial condition of the El Centro hospital since the ECRMC debt far exceeds its asset value and would place the entire district in a difficult financial position.
The Assembly bill passed out of committee Thursday as Committee members heard from UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent. As passed out of committee, the bill would expand the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District to a countywide health care district. According to Assemblymemebr Garcia, there are plans to amend the bill to create an entirely new countywide health care district and consolidate El Centro Regional with the Heffernan and Pioneers districts.
