Daughters of Charity OKs sale to Prime Healthcare

Daughters of Charity Health System last week officially chose for-profit Prime Healthcare Services as the buyer for its six California hospitals.

The system’s hospital boards have approved the controversial deal, but the Vatican and the state attorney general still need to sign off on it.

In August, Prime Healthcare surfaced as a possible suitor for the not-for-profit Roman Catholic system, but neither side would confirm the speculation. The deal is likely to face intense pressure from Prime’s opponents, led by the powerful Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West.

The SEIU immediately vowed to step up its media campaign to urge California Attorney General Kamala Harris to reject the sale.