FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 21, 1999

CONTACT:
Carole Gan, UC Davis
(916)734-9040
Nancy Turner, Sutter Health
(916) 454-6569

SUTTER HEALTH AND UC DAVIS AGREE ON RATES FOR TRAUMA CARE

(Sacramento, CA) - Officials at Sutter Health Central and UC Davis Health System announced today that they have resolved a long-standing dispute over charges for trauma care. In the settlement, Sutter agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against UC Davis over trauma charges, and UC Davis agreed to not file its cross-complaint for damages against Sutter.

The new agreement includes negotiated rates for the care of trauma patients at Sutter Roseville Medical Center's trauma center and UC Davis Medical Center's trauma center, effective immediately.

Officials of both health care systems say there are opportunities to work together to improve the delivery of health care within individual communities they serve and to promote cooperation between physicians of both health systems.

"I am very pleased with the renewed spirit of cooperation between two of Sacramento's premier health care organizations," said Lou Lazatin, Sutter Health Central's Chief Executive Officer. "Both organizations continue to change, giving us the opportunity to reopen negotiations over trauma rates and to expand those discussions to other areas that can benefit the communities we serve."

Robert E. Chason, Interim Director of UC Davis Medical Center, said, "What began as a simple attempt to create dialogue provided an opportunity to develop new relationships. I sincerely believe that cooperation among those who provide health care and those who pay for it will become increasingly important as we strive in a tough market to better serve the entire community."

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