Health Commons reviewing provider proposals

June 18, 2010

Valencia Health Commons this week began reviewing proposals from healthcare service providers, with one expected to be given a contract to manage a hospital in Valencia County.

Health commons board member Georgia Otero-Kirkham, who is also a county commissioner, said during Wednesday night’s county commission meeting that the health commons has accepted a number of proposals from service providers.

She said the health commons board also was given scoring sheets to help rank each service provider.

The health commons board will discuss and possibly select a service provider on Wednesday, with negotiations on an agreement to follow.

Holding the proposals in the air for the public to see, Otero-Kirkham refused to disclose which service providers had submitted a proposal, saying in order to participate on the board, she signed a confidentiality agreement with Valencia Health Commons.

In response, Commissioner Pedro Rael called on Valencia Health Commons, including Otero-Kirkham, to provide full disclosure of its activities, including releasing the names of the service providers.

“It’s outrageous to withhold that information,” Rael said, adding, “We’re entitled to know what’s going on.”

The hospital project management contract Valencia Health Commons signed with Valencia County requires the health commons to provide annual reports and financial audits, as well as any reasonable reporting requested by Valencia County.

Posted in: Hospital