SACRAMENTO—Today, Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) joined doctors, nurses, public health experts and City leaders to call on Sutter Health to protect patient care and save St. Luke’s Hospital from an unacceptable decline in emergency services.  She will also attend the Board of Supervisors’ hearing on St. Luke’s.

Assemblywoman Ma is a longtime champion for healthcare and a member of the Assembly Health Committee.  As a member of the Board of Supervisors, Ma authored Ordinance 224-04 to require a Healthcare Impact Report when a private hospital moves or builds more than 200 hospital beds.

“I know these are tough fiscal times, but patient care must always come first,” said Assemblywoman Ma.  “We must listen to the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers on our front lines and ensure that emergency care is protected at Saint Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco.”

Assemblywoman Ma addressed a rally outside City Hall, pledging state assistance in the effort.  “As a member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, I voted to audit the way California treats nonprofit hospitals like Sutter to ensure that we are getting the community benefits and charity care that Californians deserve.  I look forward to the release of this audit so we can get a real review of the financials.”  Audit 2007-107, requested by Senator Carole Migden, is due out in December 2007.

Later, at a Board of Supervisors hearing called by Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, Assemblywoman Ma reiterated the importance of completing the Healthcare Impact Report.  “We must make sure that any plan the City considers will not worsen patient care, significantly increase costs or deny San Franciscans, especially in the southern neighborhoods, access to quality care.”