Former Sutter Health regional CEO dies

Larry deGhetaldi, MD, former president and CEO of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health’s Santa Cruz division, died Aug. 10 at age 69, Lookout Santa Cruz reported Aug. 20. 

He served in the role for 21 years, according to the report.

Dr. deGhetaldi’s work contributed to the 2015 congressional passage of the Medicare geographic payment fix, which secured more accurate payments for California physicians and improved access to care across the state. He helped create the Medicare geographic practice cost index, which determines care costs by geographic region, Lookout reported.

Over the past 40 years, he held several roles in the California Medical Association, including chair of the health reform and Medicare reform technical advisory committees.

After medical school, Dr. deGhetaldi returned to Santa Cruz in 1984 as an urgent care physician at Santa Cruz Medical Clinic, which joined Sutter Health in 1993. He retired in 2023, Lookout reported.

“Larry was an incredible person to work with — he was brilliant, tenacious, and kind,” Stephanie Connor Kent, CEO at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center in Santa Cruz, said in a statement shared with Becker’s on Aug. 22. “He channeled his competitiveness to improve healthcare quality throughout the region. His curiosity challenged the status quo and prompted us to take action to improve access and equity in health outcomes. His advocacy across the region, state, and nation improved funding for care in our area.”

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