Board asks state attorney general to include conditions in any AHMC settlement over closed Half Moon Bay ER
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Summary
After a contentious discussion, the board voted to send a letter to the California Attorney General asking that any settlement with AHMC (owner/operator) include remedies and tolling tied to the closure of the CoSIDE standby emergency department; AHMC counsel said the closure stemmed from severe storm damage and regulatory hurdles.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted on Dec. 9 to ask the California Attorney General to include conditions in any settlement with AHMC tied to the CoSIDE standby emergency department closure in Half Moon Bay.
Supervisor Ray Mueller introduced a letter that asked the AG to seek remedies to ensure AHMC meets operational commitments, to toll the contractual operating period by the length of the closure, and to pursue compliance mechanisms if necessary. The motion passed after debate; one supervisor abstained and the board president voted no.
AHMC’s counsel, Connie Wu, told the board the CoSIDE closure followed damage from severe winter storms beginning in 2022 and continuing into 2024, and that reopening has been delayed by a lengthy set of regulatory approvals and custom engineering work. Wu said AHMC attempted to open a temporary standby emergency department while repairs continued but that the California Department of Public Health would not approve a partial reopening without the rest of the building meeting regulatory standards. She said AHMC is engaged in confidential settlement discussions with the AG’s office and could not commit to tolling at this time.
County Counsel reviewed the letter with the board and said the county legal office did not believe the draft contained factual inaccuracies. Several board members countered that, even with storm damage as a cause, the county had a contractual relationship with AHMC that required the county’s investment in seismic upgrades be paired with continued emergency services; the board discussed whether the letter’s language would help or hinder progress toward reopening.
Roll call: Supervisor Spear voted yes; Supervisor Corso abstained; Supervisor Mueller voted yes; Supervisor Gauthier voted yes; President Canapa voted no. The motion passed.
Next steps: The board will designate a signer and transmit the letter to the AG’s office; staff said the county will continue to monitor settlement discussions and regulatory approvals, and any contractual remedies would be subject to further board consideration.