PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Medical Center board of commissioners unanimously approved a $303.4 million 2025 operating budget that anticipates $300 million in revenue, leaving a deficit of $2.9 million.
The loss represents a $30,000 downward adjustment from the draft budget that was presented at the board’s Nov. 6 meeting.
The 2024 budget forecast a loss of $754,720; OMC is on track to lose $6.4 million this year.
Commissioners on Wednesday also approved a property tax levy of $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate represents the levy lid lift voters passed in August’s primary election that more than doubled the existing rate of $0.31 per $1,000.
OMC was awaiting word from Clallam County on the total amount it would collect, Chief Financial Officer Lorraine Cannon said.
OMC is continuing its efforts to move legislators in Washington, D.C., toward changes for its financial viability, hospital CEO Darryl Wolfe said. During his most recent trip, OMC continued to advocate for an appropriation request of $1.5 million for IT infrastructure improvement and increasing Medicare reimbursements from the current rate of 80 percent of the cost of care.
“I do think we’ve raised awareness, not just for OMC but also for the other hospitals,” Wolfe said. “You have a lot of large rural hospitals out there that aren’t cost-based critical access hospitals, not just in Washington state, but in other parts of the country as well.
“You cannot ignore them.”
In Washington, D.C., Wolfe met with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Edmonds, and Patty Murray, D-Seattle, as well as U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Kim Schrier, D-Wash., Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Michael Guest, R-Miss.
Wolfe said among the reasons he met with Newhouse and Guest was that Kilmer still needed a Republican to stand with him on his Medicare bill. The representatives have hospitals in their districts that are in positions similar to OMC’s.
“Everyone wants to support rural healthcare, it’s just a matter of how you do it,”Wolfe said. “We’re on a path that’s not sustainable for us.”
Heather Delplain, OMC’s administrative director of human resources, explained to commissioners new state laws going into effect that are intended to reduce healthcare worker burnout by prohibiting mandatory overtime except in specific circumstances and implementing strict meal and break requirements.
Hospitals that don’t comply can face penalties.
OMC has started a new program, Community Connections, that is part of its onboarding process. Local organizations talk to groups of new hires who are not from the area about their activities and volunteer opportunities.
“We really want them to feel connected to the community, not just OMC,” Delplain said.
Also, for the first time in recent memory, every registered nurse position at OMC is filled, she said.
Meanwhile, Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, introduced 14 men and women who are receiving support from the George and Barbara Brown Scholarship Fund to further their careers in healthcare.
The board recognized Skinner for his recent award from Washington Festivals and Events Association as its first lifetime achievement winner.
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Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
