In-Depth Report: Valley Healthcare Vote and the arguments for and against Measure AA

Voters throughout the Coachella Valley will be asked to decide the fate of Measure AA on November’s ballot. 

If approved, Measure AA will authorize the Desert Healthcare District to enter into a $646,231,750 30-year lease-to-purchase agreement with Tenet Healthcare for Desert Regional Medical Center.

If not renewed, the current agreement for Tenet to operate Desert Regional ends in 2027 and would lead to an uncertain future about who would operate the healthcare facility. Tenet's lease payments of $646 million would ultimately lead to Tenet owning the hospital facilities. The question now is, is this the best healthcare solution for the Coachella Valley?

Ads promoting both arguments are in people's mailboxes, and on television, and are even being sent to cellphones via text message and social media.

The California Nurses Association urges a “No Vote” saying Measure AA would remove local control of Desert Regional Medical Center and prioritize Tenet Healthcare’s profits over patients.

Deborah Edwards has worked in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as a Registered Nurse for 25 years. She speaks for the California Nurses Association in urging a ‘no’ vote.

“They have not been a good company for us, and there are other options," Edwards said adding, "They want to make us believe that there are no other options, and that all the services will just go away. But that's not true.” 

Edwards argues Desert Regional is not in danger of closing, and that Tenet has not reinvested profits into the hospital, leading to structural issues like elevator problems and plumbing malfunctions. She says Tenet continually under-staffs the hospital jeopardizing patient care. There have also been cleanliness issues, including a pest infestation that closed a hospital kitchen in February. 

“There were signs of rats and cockroaches throughout the hospital in the ICU, and that had been for years," Edwards said. 

Hospital spokesman Richard Ramhoff responded to the criticism saying the infestation problem shouldn't have happened but was handled very quickly. "And we brought in additional resources to handle it very quickly,” Ramhoff said.

Ramhoff argues there are many reasons to vote ‘yes’ on Measure AA including Tenet’s already demonstrated investments in staffing and facilities. Tenet built the region's only level one trauma center here, brought in upgraded stroke care, and made a $1.8 million donation to double the size of the nursing class at COD. And it’s upgraded care at its other network hospitals including JFK in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. 

The deal would also cover $220 million in state-mandated seismic upgrades to the hospital in the coming years.

“It truly is a win, win situation," Ramhoff said adding, "and it would be dire consequences if, if this can't be allowed to continue.”

Edwards argues the sale of Desert Regional would be a loss of a community asset.

“Once Tenet has a hold of it and they are allowed to buy the hospital we no longer, as a community, have oversight," Edwards said.

News Channel 3 reached out to Eisenhower Health to see if there might be interest in it taking over operations at Desert Regional Medical Center. Eisenhower Health spokeswoman Lee Rice replied with a statement saying, "Eisenhower Health believes that it is unlikely that California and Federal regulators would support Eisenhower as the lessee of Desert Regional Medical Center. Current laws suggest that such an option may be anti-competitive and therefore, not possible."

Edwards also suggested the University of California, as a not-for-profit organization, could come in and manage the hospital better than Tenet.

Kim Johnson is the hospital’s Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and argues for a "yes" vote. “I work with many nurses, and many are for yes for a Measure AA, because it is a win, win," Johnson said. She added, "It keeps our programs going. And it also it's no new taxes for the taxpayer.”

Johnson is sold on Tenet’s commitment to the community now and into the future.

“I would never be concerned," Johnson said, "because what they're going to do is invest into more programs and more level, higher level of care.”

Ultimately, the decision comes down to a belief in Tenet. 

Edwards argues against Measure AA saying, “I want the community to understand that Tenet Corporation is a for-profit corporation, and that is their bottom line. That is all they really care about.”

Ramhoff argues for Measure AA saying, “It's a health system that we need to maintain, and it all can happen at no cost to taxpayers. The alternatives are just not what we want to see.”

READ THE OFFICIAL ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST MEASURE AA HERE:

If approved, the deal will continue the hospital’s lease with Tenet beginning in 2027, and include in the sale the El Mirador Surgery Center and Desert Care Network physician clinics.