Alameda County supervisors reaffirm request that Alameda Health System defer layoffs, program closures through June 30

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on March 10 unanimously approved a letter asking the Alameda Health System (AHS) board of trustees to defer program closures and all planned reductions in force through June 30, 2026, while an ad hoc committee and county staff pursue revenue and cost-saving options.

Supervisor Miley, who moved the reaffirmation, said she and Supervisor Fortunato Bass are leading an ad hoc group to review AHS’s financial challenges and had scheduled meetings for the first Wednesday of April, May and June to work with AHS, county staff and labor. "Our intent is clear," Miley said, adding the board is not trying to undercut the trustees but to send an unequivocal message in writing.

Supervisor Fortunato Bass, who seconded the motion, said AHS had delayed certain patient-facing layoffs for only two weeks and that the board’s letter seeks deferrals of all layoffs and program closures — patient-facing and non-patient-facing — through the end of the fiscal year so the committee can develop recommendations to raise revenue and find savings.

Labor leaders and health‑system employees urged the supervisors to hold the line. Tony Fuentes, director and ACMEA representative for AHS staff, told the board that AHS serves roughly 150,000 patients a year and that cuts would fall hardest on low-income and uninsured residents. "When services close or positions are eliminated, the impact is immediate and is felt most by the residents of this county who have the fewest alternatives for care," Fuentes said.

Drew Scott, a therapist at Fairmont’s intensive outpatient program, said his program faces a planned March 23 closure and that the AHS board of trustees did not follow the county’s March 3 direction, causing stress for clients and staff. "We had to go back and tell our clients this news, and it caused so much undue stress and chaos," Scott said.

Speakers also raised quality and funding concerns. Ashley Marr presented laboratory data showing contaminated blood cultures rose from 10 in 2025 (about 1.1% of cultures) to 30 in January 2026 (about 3%), saying the increase multiplies workloads and the risk of burnout among micro‑technicians. Susan Sandoval, an SEIU member at San Leandro Hospital, said labor is preparing a state budget request for $5,000,000 to support public health care services and urged preservation of Level 1 trauma capability at Highland Hospital.

Board members repeatedly clarified that the county cannot direct the AHS trustees to act; the supervisors said the letter is a request and a signal of the county’s willingness to identify and allocate county resources if needed. Supervisor Miley said the county will ask AHS and county administration to report back to the board on March 17 with any updated plans or resource needs.

The motion passed on a roll call with Supervisors Marquez, Tam, Miley, Partonado Bosch and President Halbert voting yes. The meeting adjourned after the vote.

The next procedural steps are the March 17 report-back from county administration and AHS, and the ad hoc committee meetings convening in April, May and June to explore funding and operational alternatives.