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Citing “unfair business practices” as their biggest concern, 18 California lawmakers urged California Attorney General Kamala Harris to reject the sale of six hospitals in the Daughters of Charity Health System to Prime Healthcare Services. That includes Gilroy’s Saint Louise Regional Hospital.U.S. representatives Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) spearheaded the effort in which a Dec. 11 letter addressing their concerns over the sale to the controversial for-profit healthcare system was sent out to the attorney general’s office. The group asks Harris to reject the transaction.“It is our belief that under Prime, patient care and healthcare worker rights will suffer at these hospitals,” the letter states.Lofgren represents the 19th U.S. Congressional district, which includes Morgan Hill.The letter goes on to note that Prime’s history of unfair business practices “have resulted in civil and criminal investigations by government agencies for allegedly overbilling Medicare as well as violations of patient confidentiality.” Furthermore, California’s need for additional safety net hospitals as a result of the expanded Medi-Cal services provided under the Affordable Care Act “is incompatible with Prime’s business model of minimizing the amount of care it delivers to low-income patients.”The highly-scrutinized DCHS sale to Prime has supporters in the California Nurses Association, which worked out a one-year agreement with the new owners that came with full pension assurances prior to the acquisition.However, the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West have campaigned against the sale to Prime even before it was announced in early October. The union believes “Prime puts profits over patients and doesn’t share Daughters’ mission of serving the poor,” according to an SEIU-UHW press release.The Dec. 11 letter from lawmakers also joins Santa Clara County officials in the chorus of concerns over the pending sale, which requires approval from the attorney general’s office and the Vatican before it becomes final.“We are not going to roll over and risk watching Prime Healthcare cut services, raise prices and layoff caregivers like they’ve done in so many other communities in California and other states,” SEIU-UHW President Dave Regan said.Prime Healthcare founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Prem Reddy has stood firm that the hospital chain he founded will infuse $150 million in capital improvements at the DCHS facilities, protect 7,600 jobs and assume more than $300 million in pension guarantees for more than 17,000 union and non-union active and retired workers.DCHS officials have also said the hospitals, including SLRH, are in danger of closing if the attorney general does not approve the sale to Prime, which they have said was the only viable bidder for the system which went up for sale in January.The congressional representatives who penned the Dec. 11 letter are not convinced, however. Prime Healthcare Services has a history of cutting services, raising prices, and laying off workers. The questionable history of Prime Healthcare combined with the mission of these hospitals to serve the most needy residents raises doubts as to the sensibility of the sale, according to the Dec. 11 press release from Honda’s and Lofgren’s officesHarris may reject the sale based on any factors found relevant, including whether the sale is in the public interest; whether it would create significant effects on the availability of health care services in the community; or whether the proposed use of the proceeds from the transaction is consistent with the charitable trust under which the hospitals have operated.Harris’ office has blocked two of four potential sales of hospitals involving Prime Healthcare, including its attempt to purchase Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville in 2011.The attorney general is given an initial 60-day review window on transactions and, in cases of multi-facility sales, Harris can opt for an additional 45-day extension. The Charitable Trusts Division, which focuses on nonprofits and charities conducts the review process. In the last four years, the division has conducted 20 to 30 such reviews.Reps. Honda and Lofgren were joined by Representatives Sam Farr (D- Carmel), Mark Takano (D- Riverside), Janice Hahn (D- San Pedro), Anna G. Eshoo (D- Palo Alto), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D- Los Angeles), Xavier Becerra (Los Angeles), Doris O. Matsui (D- Sacramento), Tony Cardenas (D- San Fernando Valley), Jackie Speier (D- San Francisco/San Mateo Counties), Barbara Lee (D- Oakland), Loretta Sanchez (D- Garden Grove), Juan Vargas (D- San Diego) Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena), George Miller (D- Martinez), Alan Lowenthal (D- Long Beach), and Maxine Waters (D- Los Angeles).“In closing, we do not believe an acquisition of Daughters of Charity hospitals by Prime is in the best interests of patients or healthcare workers in California,” the letter concludes. “Given Prime’s troubled past and regulatory problems, and its incompatibility with the historic safety net mission of Daughters, we urge you to protect the rights of patients and healthcare workers by rejecting this proposed sale.”

The storm that has prompted severe weather and flash flooding alerts from the National Weather Service has been pounding Morgan Hill since about 10 a.m. Thursday.The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s rain gauges placed throughout Morgan Hill show nearly half an inch of rain has fallen in some areas over the last three hours.The City of Morgan Hill added a third sandbag station for residents and business owners to stock up on flood proofing supplies. Sandbags and sand are available at the following locations:—City Corp Yard, 100 Edes Court,—El Toro Fire Station, 18300 Old Monterey Road,—Depot Street near Fourth Street, in the parking lot adjacent to the railroad tracks in downtown Morgan Hill.SCVWD officials have so far delivered 45,000 sandbags to communities throughout Santa Clara County this week, in anticipation of the storm which is expected to continue through Friday, Dec. 12, according to a press release from SCVWD.Water district staff are also closely monitoring creek levels, including that of Upper Llagas Creek in Morgan Hill, which could contribute to local flooding if they continue to rise.

Flooding, high winds, fallen trees and longer than normal commutes may all be in the works as part of a storm that hit Hollister this afternoon.

The holiday season is upon us and what better way to spend the chilly nights than by the fire with a glass of delicious wine? This time of year, wine drinkers tend to gravitate toward some of the more full-bodied reds, as opposed to the chilled whites enjoyed in the hot summer months. However, this is really the season in which there is something for everybody, and the best time to explore new wines.

Freida is a 9-year-old cat who  is sponsored, so her adoption is free. She is relaxed, loves to play and be pet. She is also good with other cats. She has been at the San Martin Animal Shelter since September. For information, call (408) 686-3900.

Matthew Switzer, Christopher High School senior

To know Barbara is to love her Santas. No wonder Barbara Scoles is the Artist of the Month for December at the Dragonfly Gallery, 380 Blohm Ave. in Aromas. Scoles is a professional when it comes to slicing and dicing big blocks of wood, ultimately revealing the beautiful smiling Santa hidden inside each block.

Before Peter Arellano said his farewells as a city council member Monday night, mariachi music bounced in the hallways of City Hall as members of the community thanked him for 13 years of service on the Gilroy City Council.

The city has embarked on a multi-million-dollar capital improvement project in downtown Gilroy, but some business owners say it’s costing them money, too.The proprietors of the Milias Restaurant and Hotel estimate they lost thousands of dollars in potential revenue between Dec. 1 and 5 after a weeklong construction project drove away customers during what’s traditionally the busiest month in the restaurant business.

ENGAGEMENT: Kennedy/Prosser: Carol Jeanne (Carly) Kennedy and Bertram Llewellyn Prosser are engaged.