Hoquiamites have mixed feelings about proposed hospital district

April 23--About a year ago, Hoquiam resident Brian Sterling started to feel ill -- loss of energy, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. But like so many patients, he waited a while to go to the doctor, hoping that he'd feel better on his own.

But he didn't, and eventually he sought help.

He visited a local doctor who told him that the problem was serious. Sterling had a perforated colon and was rushed into emergency surgery at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. Sixteen days later, he emerged good as new.

"I wouldn't have made it to a hospital in Olympia," Sterling said. "That's my fault for waiting so long, but I didn't know. The staff at the hospital saved my life."

Sterling told his story at a public forum at Hoquiam High School in an effort to convince other Harborites to vote "yes" on a measure that could save Grays Harbor Community Hospital from economic ruin. The measure creating Grays Harbor Public Hospital District No. 2 will appear on the August ballot.

And if it passes, the hospital would begin receiving more Medicaid reimbursement from the state -- which could increase yearly revenue by about $2 million, according to Grays Harbor Community Hospital CEO Tom Jensen. About 75 percent of Community Hospital's patients use some form of government insurance, which doesn't always reimburse the hospital for the full cost of treatment, Jensen explained.

"Medicare pays for the cost of treatment or a little less," Jensen said. "Medicaid pays even less."

But not all of the meeting's 30 attendees were as convinced as Sterling. Many wondered if Harborites can afford the property tax increase that would come with a new hospital district. Others, such as Quinault resident Keith Olson, wondered whether increased Medicaid reimbursement would actually solve the hospital's budget woes.

"How do we get out of this mess without over-taxing?" Olson asked. "Is it really possible to get out of this debt?"

Jensen said yes, the increased Medicaid reimbursement would solve the problem. He estimated that if the district were to tax residents at 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value and began receiving the extra state assistance, the hospital would begin operating with a 2 to 3 percent profit margin within a couple of years.

Others had different concerns, such as whether the hospital would run differently as a public entity. Jensen said it could -- that would be up to the new hospital commissioners, who will be elected on the August ballot. But patients likely wouldn't have to pay more for their visits, he said.

"The only person that would have to pay us more is the government," Jensen said.

Sharon Gaston of Hoquiam said she would rather see the hospital continue operating as a private, non-profit entity.

"I just hate to see the government get their fingers in everything and twist it around," Gaston said. "So I'm saying how I'm voting, I guess."

Jensen said that if the measure fails, Grays Harbor Community Hospital will cease to exist as it currently does. He estimate that in about a year, reserve funds would be so low that bondholders would force the hospital to restructure and cut programs that don't turn a profit.

"This community has to have certain services whether they make money or not," Jensen said.

More Meetings

Members of the public will be able to learn more about the proposed hospital district at the following meetings:

- Today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aberdeen High School Commons

- Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in conference room C

- Monday, April 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at North Beach High School.

The county commissioners will also conduct formal public hearings on the matter to specifically decide the number of hospital district commissioners that will be on the ballot and the district's proposed boundaries:

The hearings are at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 5, and 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7. All hearings take place at the County Administration Building in the first floor commission chambers in Montesano.

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