Healthcare District plans final community meeting on hospital lease negotiations

Coachella Valley residents will have another opportunity to attend a community meeting about hospital lease negotiations between the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation and Tenet Healthcare.

The hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, is owned by the Healthcare District and Foundation, but it has been leased and operated by Tenet since 1997. The current lease expires in 2027, and Tenet has proposed to lease the hospital for another 30 years. The difference this time: Tenet's new proposal would give the company ownership of the hospital at the end of the new lease. 

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board of Directors wants to hear your questions and comments about the proposed lease and what it means for Coachella Valley residents. Four meetings were held in February, March and early April in Desert Hot Springs, Mecca, Cathedral City and Indio.

The final meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on April 30 at UCR Palm Desert, Building B, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert. Though it was planned to reach residents of Indian Wells, La Quinta, and Palm Desert, it is open to all valley residents to attend.

Tenet's current 30-year lease will expire in 2027. In September 2023, the company presented a new proposal to lease the hospital again, culminating in its purchase of the hospital at the end of the new lease. The District and Foundation Board has requested that Tenet remove the purchase option from the proposal, which has not yet occurred. Talks are ongoing.

The public is invited to participate in the community meeting in person. However, those who wish to attend virtually can do so by accessing the following information:

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86757292133?pwd=ZjdmbEFJcmhhSVNBUlBGcUdYWjIvdz09

Webinar ID: 867 5729 2133

Passcode: 801738

(669) 900-6833 or Toll Free (833) 548-0282   

Please visit this site, dhcd.org, for updates on meeting venues and other pertinent information.