County appointee resigns from Natrona Collective Health Trust, cites spending and accountability concerns; citizens group urges contract enforcement

Jennifer True, a Natrona County appointee to the Natrona Collective Health Trust, resigned effective immediately and delivered a public critique of the trust’s spending, governance and adherence to its stated community mission.

In a prepared statement to the commissioners, True said she accepted the appointment in March 2024 with the expectation that the trust would “support the delivery and accessibility of high quality, efficient healthcare services throughout Natrona County.” She said instead the trust has “strayed from its founding mission,” pointing to more than $6 million spent on a building purchase and renovation, staff salary increases of over 14%, reduced community giving and expenditures for statewide policy work she said do not meet the trust’s exclusive local-purpose directive. True also said governance practices—including board recruitment driven by the executive director, compensation for the board chair and a lack of independent executive-session review for salary increases—undermine accountability. She urged the county to demand an independent audit of trust spending, consultant contracts and staffing levels.

A citizens group and local physicians including Dr. James Anderson told the commission that since Banner Health acquired Wyoming Medical Center, local access to specialists and patient-satisfaction ratings have declined and that the collective has not consistently performed the contract-monitoring role county leaders expected. Dr. Anderson and the citizens group provided commissioners with contract copies and highlighted provisions that assign county-related oversight responsibilities connected to the collective and the hospital transfer.

Banner Health and the trust have retained PYA, an outside hospital consultancy, to perform a compliance and performance review; both Banner and trust representatives told the commission they would cooperate and provide documents to the monitor. Banner’s local representative said PYA’s subject-matter expertise is needed to determine whether the post-closing agreements are being met and that Banner would follow PYA’s recommendations.

County commissioners thanked the departing appointee for her service and requested a copy of her resignation letter. Commissioners discussed the limits of their direct legal authority over the collective but said they expect transparency from the trust and that county appointees should report regularly to the commission. Eric (county appointee to the trust) told commissioners the trust intends to continue reporting to the commission and to meet again when PYA’s work allows a fuller assessment.

The commission did not take formal enforcement action during the meeting but asked staff and appointees to continue work to obtain PYA’s findings and to convene accountability discussions.