Governor Inslee: Provide IMMEDIATE Cash Assistance to WhidbeyHealth

Whidbey Island residents have one place to turn for medical help during the COVID-19 pandemic: the hospital and other facilities run by WhidbeyHealth. WhidbeyHealth struggles financially in the best of times. But WhidbeyHealth's cash flow has been clobbered by the pandemic.

The Washington State Hospital Association now says that WhidbeyHealth is one of five hospitals in our state facing imminent danger of closing its doors. https://bit.ly/2ybfps0 

The population of Whidbey Island is particularly at risk during this pandemic. More than 30% of the population of Central and South Whidbey are over 65, and are considered high risk for severe COVID-19 illness. In normal times, Whidbey Island residents are referred to off-Island health care facilities for critical and urgent care, but these facilities are unlikely to accept Whidbey Island patients once this pandemic surges.

Compounding this problem, the large Naval air station on Whidbey Island depends on WhidbeyHealth to provide urgent medical care to its personnel. Much of the nation's electronic warfare capability—critical to our military's ability to protect our national security--is located on our naval station.

We need a financially secure WhidbeyHealth system to avoid a public health catastrophe on Whidbey Island, one that would have devastating local effects AND impact our national security.

We know that federal and state government have promised pandemic funding for health care providers, but none of this funding has reached Whidbey Island. We urge you to take the action demanded by the Washington State Hospital Association: Direct the Office of Financial Management to provide immediate emergency cash assistance to WhidbeyHealth in the form of a grant sufficient to provide the system with at least 90 days of operating funds.

WhidbeyHealth is being put to a cruel choice: spend the resources necessary to protect its patients and health care workers, or hold back funds to meet payroll and keep its doors open. The doctors, nurses, first responders and residents of Whidbey Island deserve better. Governor Inslee, we insist that you act, immediately and decisively, to protect our hospital and other facilities providing healthcare to poor, rural, minority and other underserved communities.

Signed,

Residents and Friends of Whidbey Island