Judy Haines, a Glenwood Springs resident, told the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners that she is worried about how proposed changes to Medicaid could affect hospitals and clinics in the county and region. She said her granddaughter is a pediatric patient at Pediatric Partners, an entity that relies heavily on Medicaid revenue, and she fears that reductions in Medicaid could force program or service cuts and push up private insurance costs.

Haines asked county leaders what resources the county would deploy if Medicaid dollars “are not coming” and local hospitals and practices lose revenue. She cited labor-and-delivery and pediatric services as particularly vulnerable and noted concern for patients, providers and insurance pools. “What are we going to do with Valley View Hospital?” she asked.

Commissioners acknowledged the concern and said it remains uncertain what the concrete effects will be, and that planning will be required. Commissioners noted Rifle Memorial Hospital had been checked and “they're not in danger of shutting down,” while other rural hospitals were identified as more at risk. Commissioners also pointed to county efforts to manage healthcare costs internally, such as county-sponsored employee health plans and two county health centers set up to control expenses.

Haines said she and her family had sought well-formed solutions, including exploring water and legal issues and trying to secure a domestic well; she agreed to comply with any county conditions should the county approve temporary measures.)