Mike Glenn joined Jefferson Healthcare as the Chief Executive Officer in October 2010. He served as CEO of Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles from 1999 to 2006. He understands a rural healthcare system shapes the health of an entire region.
July 3, 2025
July 3, 2025, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” We are angered and saddened that so many members of Congress would choose to make devastating cuts to Medicaid that will harm millions of Americans. Washington state will be hit particularly hard by this bill, with an estimated 490,000 losing Apple Health (Washington’s name for Medicaid), and an additional 150,000 who will be priced out of the health insurance marketplace due to expiring subsidies. Jefferson Healthcare will not be immune to these impacts. The blow from this bill will be felt by our hospital and in our community for months and years to come.
Rural hospitals, often the backbone of their communities, will be hit hardest by this bill. Currently, over 300 rural hospitals across the country are at immediate risk of closure due to financial problems. Rural hospitals routinely operate on razor-thin margins and serve a significantly higher percentage of patients covered by Medicaid. When people lose their health insurance, hospitals will be forced to absorb the financial shortfall, forced to make tough decisions about cutting back services and staff, and, for some, forced to close. Rural hospitals with labor and delivery units are at particular risk. At Jefferson Healthcare, roughly 50% of our labor and delivery services are covered by Medicaid. Congress should be investing in services and expanding access to healthcare. Instead, cuts to coverage will compound the challenges and threaten the health of our friends and neighbors.
We are disappointed in Congress for voting for this bill, but grateful for Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Congresswoman Randall and their efforts to protect Medicaid and access to healthcare as the bill made its way through both the House and Senate. The full impacts of this bill will reveal themselves over time, and you can trust that we will be working with our federal delegation and state partners to understand what it means for Washington state and Jefferson County, and how we can mitigate those impacts.
Despite our frustration and disappointment, our commitment to our community is unwavering and, if anything, strengthened by the passage of this bill. We assure you of our commitment to providing access to healthcare and providing affordable healthcare to our community as we navigate the impacts that will inevitably be felt.
Jefferson Healthcare is an award-winning, full-service healthcare organization meeting the care needs of East Jefferson County. Jefferson Healthcare offers inpatient and comprehensive outpatient services including primary and specialty physician care.
