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Suquamish Tribe acquired regional OB‑GYN practice to preserve local maternal care, tribe says
Summary
Suquamish tribal leaders told the committee they acquired Kitsap OB GYN after local closures threatened regional capacity; the tribe described decades of community health investments and said tribal ownership preserves services, increases billing flexibility, and supports workforce and continuity of care for tribal and nontribal patients in Kitsap County.
Jeff Riggins, community health program manager and Suquamish tribal member, told the committee the Suquamish Tribe acquired Kitsap OB GYN in January to preserve regional obstetric capacity after several local service closures and workforce shortages left Kitsap County with limited providers.
Riggins described long‑term tribal investments — WIC, home visiting, a Healing House medical clinic, Nurse Family Partnership — and said tribal ownership allows the facility to operate with different billing pathways (including IHS encounter rates) and to reinvest revenue into local services. "Where the market couldn't provide certainty, Suquamish chose long term stability," he said, adding the practice recorded more than 32,000 visits and over 1,200 deliveries in 2025.
Committee members asked about partnerships and how Medicaid changes might affect the tribal model; Riggins and other tribal presenters said they want the state to include tribes early in policy and funding design, to support continuity of care during ownership transitions, and to ensure tribal providers are eligible partners for maternal and workforce investments.
The committee praised the tribal model and asked HCA and DOH to coordinate with tribal partners as implementation of HR 1 and rural grants proceeds.
