Advocates call for Sutter Health to lower costs amid high medical fees in San Francisco

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, focused on pressing healthcare issues affecting the community, particularly the high medical costs in Northern California. The meeting featured public comments from residents and healthcare professionals, highlighting the disparities in healthcare access and costs.

Natalie Gee, representing the Chinese Progressive Association, shared her personal struggles with the healthcare system. She described the difficult choices her family faces between essential needs and medical care due to exorbitant costs. Gee pointed out that Northern California's medical expenses are significantly higher than those in Southern California, with a noted 70% difference. She criticized Sutter Health, the dominant healthcare provider in the region, for prioritizing profits over community care, questioning the fairness of their low charity care rates. Gee urged the county to halt any new developments by Sutter until they address the community's healthcare needs.

Following her, Annie Cortez, a registered nurse and president of the California Nurses Association, echoed concerns about the high costs of healthcare. She emphasized that Sutter's market dominance contributes to the inflated prices and refuted claims that labor costs are the primary driver of these expenses. Cortez highlighted the substantial salaries of Sutter executives, noting that the CEO of Sutter is the highest-paid in the Sacramento Valley, with corporate salaries increasing dramatically while frontline workers do not see similar wage growth.

The meeting also included acknowledgments from President David Chu, who addressed delays in public comments and thanked attendees for their participation. The discussions underscored the urgent need for reform in the healthcare system to ensure equitable access and affordability for San Francisco residents.

Overall, the meeting revealed significant community concerns regarding healthcare costs and the influence of corporate practices on patient care, setting the stage for potential future actions by the county to address these issues.