Desert Healthcare District potentially expanding to east valley

It’s a vision of “One Coachella Valley” in regards to healthcare.

On Monday, the discussion was about funding options to expand the Desert Healthcare District to the east.

It would be a huge expansion, more than tripling the area the district services and adding double the amount of people it serves.

The plan that has been in the works for over two years and even though not everyone is sold on it, it is moving forward.

“From DHS all the way to the Salton Sea will be part of the new DHCD,” said Dr. Les Zendle, president of the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation.

Currently Cook Street in Palm Desert is the artificial dividing line, as established back in 1948.

“The expansion will more than double the amount of people served in the district,” Zendle said.

“This afternoon when I decided to come here, it took me 55 minutes to get here. 55 minutes to come to a simple meeting,” said Neftali Galarza, east valley resident. “Most of our folks who live int he east end of the CV- one, don’t have transportation and two, don’t have the funds to be able to pay for transportation o get them here.”

The district does not actually deliver healthcare but provides support to agencies and groups that do.

“The district funds are to focus on before people come into the hospital. To keep them well, to keep them healthy, to do preventative care,” Zendle said.

But not everyone is convinced about the expansion.

“If I’m one of those residents in that district, I would love to get something for free. To say, ‘hi, I’m going to get all of these benefits and not pay for them,'” said Russell Betts, Council Member for the City of Desert Hot Springs.

Betts is concerned about millions of dollars currently in reserves, collected from taxes paid by residents of the west. He says if the benefits are going to expand the east valley needs to do their part.

“I can’t imagine the situation to where there wouldn’t be some system in place to where a new district is self-funding itself and there is some type of firewall on reserves from the stakeholders, to protect the existing stakeholders’ fund,” Betts said.

Two options were on the table for funding. One includes a self-funded approach, the other is a combination of public and private sources.

Betts is not the only person with concerns, La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans said her constituents would not approve a proposed property parcel tax.

The board voted Monday to go with the self-funded approach. If all goes well for the DHCD, the expansion will be added to the ballot in November.

Only east valley residents will be able to vote on it.