Alameda Health System: hospital authority

The law lets the county reshape the authority’s board and operations while preserving county oversight and responsibility for indigent care.

What the law does ​

• Allows the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to amend the hospital authority’s enabling ordinance.
• Permits the governing board to include a representative of a local public entity that supports the authority, subject to board of supervisors approval.
• Allows the governing board to consist entirely or partly of county supervisors, officers, or employees without undermining the authority’s independent status.
• Allows the governing board to delegate daily operations to expert subsidiary bodies while retaining ultimate control.
• Allows the authority to affiliate with or acquire additional public or private hospitals, clinics, or programs to further its mission.
• Allows the board of supervisors to change the governing board’s composition, revoke the authority’s duties, and return the system to county control.

Who it affects ​

• Alameda Health System patients, including indigent and special-needs populations served by the county.
• Alameda County supervisors, officers, employees, and the hospital authority’s governing board.
• Local public entities that financially or otherwise support the hospital authority.
• Hospitals, clinics, and programs that may affiliate with or be acquired by the authority.