You will be seeing and hearing a lot about Measure Y in the next few weeks. Reporter Mike Lipsitz explains what the measures is and what your vote means…
The fate of Morongo Basin’s only acute-care hospital and affiliated facilities is about to be decided in a special mail-ballot election. The County Registrar of Voters will mail ballots to registered voters in the Hi-Desert Memorial Healthcare District between the end of May and beginning of June. Measure Y asks voters for a “Yes” or “No“ on a 30-year agreement with Tenet Healthcare. If approved, Tenet will operate the medical center, plus infuse $32 million in capital improvements into the system over the next three years. Current medical staff and employees in good standing will keep their positions with the Basin’s third-largest employer. These conditions are in addition to other benefits said to come with being part of an integrated medical system that includes Desert Hospital in Palm Springs and JFK Hospital in Indio. Completed ballots must be at the ROV by June 23. A simple majority will approve or kill Measure Y.
