The California Attorney General will hold a meeting here in Santa Cruz later today to gather comments on the proposed $28-billion-dollar merger of Dignity Healthcare, which owns Dominican Hospital, with Catholic Healthcare Initiatives.
Among those speaking will be Dominican nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association. Dominican nurse and CNA member Alison Welsh is hoping to hear more specifics of the proposed deal.
If the merger is approved, Dignity has promised not to close any hospitals for at least five years. The nurses’ union wants a 15-year commitment plus guarantees for charity care, employee benefits, and other aspects of the deal.
The Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. today in the Santa Cruz Police Department’s community room, located at 155 Center St. State attorney generals can review mergers and challenge those that may substantially lessen competition.
