WHEREAS, Chinese Hospital has served the community for more than 100 years, is the last independent hospital in San Francisco and provides the highest percentage of care to Medicare and Medi-Cal eligible San Francisco residents of any hospital in the City other than SFGH; and
WHEREAS, providers of the Chinese Community Health Care Association (CCHCA) are a very important part of San Francisco’s safety net services providing culturally competent, sensitive and affordable care; and
WHEREAS, Brown & Toland is the City of San Francisco’s largest independent practice association (IPA) with more than 1,500 physician members who serve more than 220,000 patients; and,
WHEREAS, Brown & Toland Medical Group (BTMG) is actively attempting to enroll physicians of CCHCA into its IPA; and
WHEREAS, Brown & Toland Medical Group maintains incentives for its preferred physicians network that precludes participation in other IPAs; and
WHEREAS, Brown & Toland Medical Group does not maintain Medi-Cal contracts, or otherwise facilitate care for poor and indigent populations; and
WHEREAS, CCHCA and Chinese Hospital serve over 7,000 low-income residents of San Francisco enrolled in the San Francisco Health Plan through the Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids & Young Adults programs; and
WHEREAS, it is likely that CCHCA physician members who sign agreements with BTMG will bring their loyal patients with them, thus threatening the economic viability of CCHCA and Chinese Hospital; and
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s, the City Attorney and the San Francisco Health Plan, are all on record opposing the BTMG practice of exclusivity, and the California Medical Association has expressed concern about the importance of maintaining health services in the Chinese Community;now, therefore be it,
RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Health Commission supports and honors the unique and culturally competent services offered the community through Chinese Hospital and the Chinese Community Health Care Association; and be it,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission believes as a general principle that it is destructive to promote exclusivity agreements with independent practice associations; and be it,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission is opposed to BTMG targeted solicitation of CCHCA and Chinese Hospital physicians and their incentives for doctors to resign from all other affiliations and sign exclusive agreements with Brown & Toland; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission appreciates and respects the historic service that Chinese Hospital, CCHCA and independent community physicians provide to the community, and would oppose any undermining of these health services as they would have a detrimental impact on public health.
I hereby certify that the Health Commission at its meeting of May 2, 2006, adopted the foregoing resolution.
Michele M. Seaton, Secretary to the Health Commission