Vote delayed on oversight of University Medical Center

A decision on the future of University Medical Center will wait.

County commissioners on Wednesday, facing an important vote on whether to ask the Legislature for permission to turn over hospital oversight to a full-time board, decided to revise a bill draft proposal and bring it back in two weeks.

The decision came amid concerns that the draft included language that would allow the hospital board to sell the hospital and its facilities, although UMC CEO Brian Brannman told commissioners that was not the intent.

"I cannot have any language that presumes or assumes ... this hospital might be sold," Commissioner Susan Brager said.

Her comments came after several people from the Service Employees International Union voiced concerns that the plan would privatize Clark County's only public hospital and potentially place employee rights and retirements at risk.

Commissioner Larry Brown said no one should have that idea, and he directed county staff to change the draft language to clear up the issue.

Commissioners are the hospital's board of trustees. With UMC losing tens of millions of dollars each year, they're looking for solutions to stem the losses.

The hospital provides $250 million in uncompensated care each year and makes enough money to cover all but $60 million to $70 million. The county pays for that amount, but most people don't believe the model is sustainable.

One alternative, suggested by paid consultants, is to turn the hospital into a public-benefit corporation, like other hospitals across the country. Instead of commissioners voting on contracts and other routine items, a seven-member board of professionals and others in the community could make those decisions.

The situation would make the hospital more nimble and able to compete with the for-profit hospitals that dominate the valley, supporters say. It would not change the hospital's mission to serve the indigent.

But the agreement would result in some restrictions on public information. The draft allows the hospital to withhold "competitive data" from the public, and some meetings could be made private.

"We do not agree with any private-sector oversight that would make private decisions regarding a public hospital," said Jose Solorio, chairman of the Latino Democratic Caucus. "We believe in an open process."

To make the change, commissioners first need the Legislature's permission. If legislators grant it, commissioners could still decide not to overhaul the hospital's governance.

Commissioners declined to vote on the proposal at their previous meeting and missed the deadline for the bill draft to be submitted as part of the county's bill draft package. Now they will have to find a legislator to sponsor it.

Commissioner Tom Collins was skeptical of their chances.

"I don't know any legislator that's going to want to grab that ball and run with it," he said.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781.