Sky Lakes CEO urges Klamath County support as state rules squeeze hospital finances

David Cobble, chief executive officer of Sky Lakes Medical Center, told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners that the hospital faces growing financial pressure from state and federal rules and will seek county help when it advances a measure in the legislature to secure a special designation for rural hospitals.

Cobble told the commissioners that Sky Lakes is the county’s largest employer and a ‘‘sole community’’ hospital serving a roughly 10,000‑square‑mile area. He said about 25 percent of the hospital’s revenue comes from Medicaid and about 50 percent from Medicare, and added that government payers together account for roughly 80 percent of revenue. "We generate roughly $500,000,000 of revenue or, you know, just economic impact to the county," Cobble said.

Cobble said state actions have raised operating costs.…