Article by Rosemary Meyer
Voters in lower Kittitas County are being asked to support a 75 cent (per $1000) levy, replacing a more than 20 year old levy that now, due to inflation, is less than 1cent per $1000. News article, Facebook postings and conversations with hospital staff and commissioner encourage support for the levy to sustain obstetrics services at our clinics and hospital, pay for recruiting of family practice and specialty care doctors, and funding career growth for current providers (ie. paying for a family practice to obtain OB certification, or, an ER nurse to get her ER certification). Though no statement against the levy appeared in the Official Voter’s Pamphlet, ‘word on the street’ is that the hospital is making money, has a positive balance at this time and no new taxes.
Currently the hospital district earns money from patient services (private pay and insurance, Medicare and Medicaid -55%!), funding as a critical care hospital and some reimbursement for the rural health clinics in Ellensburg and Cle Elum. Many feel that most of these funding sources are uncertain in the future. The current levy at $10,000 per year would never make up for a decrease in any of the above.
To meet local health care needs, the number of KVH providers (doctors, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants) has doubled in the last couple of years. Some are hired as hospital district employees (OB, radiology) and others are members of a contracted group (anesthesia and more OB, for example). Attracting, recruiting and retaining these practitioners (at rates comparable to other hospital districts in the state and country) is a financial challenge. We all want to keep quality health care local.
The League of Women Voters urges all registered voters (and register if you are eligible) to research this issue by attending presentations provided by KVH, going to the KVH website, or attending the hospital commissioners board meeting July 24th at 5 pm in person or via Zoom. Most importantly keep in mind that KV Healthcare is owned by the people who are voting, not by a corporation or healthcare conglomerate.
This article co-published by the Ellensburg Daily Record Newspaper July 19, 2025. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization, uses Observer Corps programs to encourage transparency and accountability in local government. Rosemary Meyer is the Observer Corps member attending KV Healthcare commissioner meetings.