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Pend Oreille commissioner urges federal and state action to protect rural hospitals amid proposed Medicaid changes
Summary
Pend Oreille County Commissioner Robert Rosencrantz called for a federal backfill to mitigate proposed Medicaid changes he says would harm rural hospitals; he invited local partners to join a push for congressional action and highlighted an upcoming visit from state senate leadership.
Pend Oreille County Commissioner Robert Rosencrantz urged local peers and state partners to press federal lawmakers for additional funding to shield rural hospitals from negative effects of proposed Medicaid changes, and he outlined plans to build local and congressional awareness.
Rosencrantz said he reviewed federal Medicaid provisions and concluded the changes could harm rural hospitals and counties. He described outreach to U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner's office that had not produced a substantive staff response and proposed the county seek companion legislation to supplement the federal package.
"If there is any desire or willingness to align with me on making a concerted push to Congressman Baumgartner's office on this, you need to pick this issue up," Rosencrantz said, asking the regional group to collaborate on a federal ask modeled on a separate senator's proposal to add funding for Medicaid backfill.
Rosencrantz and other participants noted an upcoming visit to Pend Oreille County by Washington State Senate majority leader Jamie Pedersen (note: Pedersen spelled in transcript as Peterson) and an appearance by Newport Hospital CEO Kim Maness to raise awareness of local hospital needs. Rosencrantz invited attendees to attend an in-person meeting on Sept. 25 in Newport.
Why this matters: Rosencrantz warned that reductions in Medicaid coverage or support could cascade to higher uninsured rates and increased uncompensated care at regional trauma centers. He called for targeted, pro‑rata block grants or a dedicated rural hospital backfill to avoid bureaucratic delays and to preserve locally operated hospitals that serve large rural areas.
Regional response: Justin (Spokane Regional BH-ASO) said Spokane County and urban centers also feel the impact when rural hospitals lose capacity, because patients shift to larger hospitals, increasing length of stay and resource use. Justin said county leadership is considering health care priorities for the next legislative session and that regional coordination with state lawmakers is underway.
Ending: Rosencrantz asked the group to consider a coordinated outreach to their federal representative and to join local events aimed at engaging state leaders and hospital executives on the issue.
