Three Rivers Hospital levy shows early approval

BREWSTER – Initial results from the first count of August 1 primary election ballots by the Okanogan County Auditor show the renewal of Three Rivers Hospital’s (TRH) the one-year maintenance and operations levy passing handily with nearly three-quarters of voters approving. Of the 2,368 votes counted as of August 1, 1,707 or 72.9 percent approved and 661 or 27.9 percent opposed.

The TRH Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last May to put the resolution on the August election ballot. It is the same amount approved by voters for the previous levies in 2021 and 2022, 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The estimated amount TRH would receive is about $1.5 million in 2024.

Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham said the levy funding is an invaluable resource to support emergency room services. TRH contracts with STATUS Health Partners, an Iowa-based service specializing in rural critical access hospital physician staffing for 24/7 coverage in the ER and acute care.

Graham explained that while the financial goal of the non-profit TRH is to break even, reimbursements from insurance are not adequate to fully cover the cost of providing care in the ER.

Chief Deputy Auditor Jamie Groomes said her office has about 70 votes left to count. The next count will be this week.