Watch CBS News

San Jose's Valley Medical Center Expects Influx Of Medi-Cal Patients

SAN JOSE (KCBS) — It's about to get a lot more crowded at Valley Medical Center (VMC) in Santa Clara County over the next several years.

Santa Clara County Supervisors and San Jose City Council members met Friday afternoon to hear among other things the status of VMC. County Budget Director Mary Stevens raised eyebrows among council members when she said by 2014, one million new beneficiaries will be added to Medi-Cal, meaning thousands of new patients at VMC.

The hospital would have to expand primary-care capacity by 52 percent over the next five years.

"The board also approved a few million dollars of increased expenditures at the hospital, some staffing changes," Stevens said.

The County expects $55 million in federal money to support the patient increase.

Mayor Chuck Reed told County officials more than 60 percent of VMC patients are City of San Jose residents

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.