BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                     SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE
                            Senator Lois Wolk, Chair
          

          BILL NO:  SB 1352                     HEARING:  4/24/14
          AUTHOR:  Hancock                      FISCAL:  No
          VERSION:  4/21/14                     TAX LEVY:  No
          CONSULTANT:  Weinberger               

                             ALAMEDA HEALTH SYSTEM
          

          Updates outdated statutory references to the Alameda County  
          Medical Center. 


                           Background and Existing Law  

          Special legislation allowed Alameda County to form a public  
          hospital authority to manage, administer, and control the  
          Alameda County Medical Center (AB 2374, Bates, 1996).  The  
          Authority is governed by a board of trustees appointed by  
          the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and employs more  
          than 3,000 people, including 500 physicians, at facilities  
          throughout Alameda County.  Major components of the  
          countywide health system include:
                 Highland Hospital, a major regional trauma center  
               and teaching hospital;
                 John George Psychiatric Hospital, an acute and  
               emergency care facility;
                 Fairmont Hospital, an acute rehabilitation hospital  
               and skilled nursing facility; 
                 San Leandro Hospital,  a 93-bed medical facility in  
               central Alameda County; and, 
                 Ambulatory wellness centers in the cities of  
               Oakland, Newark and Hayward.

          Last year, to reflect the broader range of facilities and  
          services governed by the Authority and its new  
          responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act, the  
          Authority changed its name from Alameda County Medical  
          Center to Alameda Health System (AHS).  To avoid confusion,  
          AHS officials want the special statute that governs the  
          Authority to use the new name.


                                   Proposed Law  





          SB 1352 -- 4/21/14 -- Page 2



          Senate Bill 1352 replaces outdated statutory references to  
          the "Alameda County Medical Center" with references to the  
          "Alameda Health System."  SB 1352 makes additional  
          technical and conforming changes to state law and includes  
          legislative findings and declarations regarding AHS. 


                               State Revenue Impact
           
          No estimate.


                                     Comment  

           Purpose of the bill  .  Now that the former Alameda County  
          Medical Center is doing business under the name Alameda  
          Health System, AHS officials want to ensure that statutory  
          references to AHS's old name don't create confusion or  
          inconsistencies that could complicate their interactions  
          with regulatory and oversight agencies.  SB 1352 conforms  
          state law to AHS's new identity.  


                         Support and Opposition  (4/21/14)

           Support  :  Alameda Health System.

           Opposition  :  Unknown.