Looking Forward
The District's operations look very different from years past as a result of the dramatic changes occurring in 2018. Those changes resulted in a major shift in the District's method of meeting its statutory obligation to provide "healthcare services for the residents of such District and other persons." (RCW 70.44.003).
The critical change was the District's shift from directly providing those services through a hospital owned and operated by the District, to contracting for those services from RCCH Health Care Partners/Trios (RCCH) which the District is statutorily authorized to do. (RCW 70.44.060). The terms of how those services are to be performed and compensation were negotiated, agreed and confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court. This Agreement with its required Court approval alone permitted the hospital to remain open to meet the needs of the District's residents. (See article here.)
The Community Care Agreement provides not only "adequate provision for the needs of the District and residents" (RCW 70.44.060) and well defined continuing high quality healthcare services, but also to adopt a "charitable care policy" to meet the health care needs of the most vulnerable members of our community, including continuing the District's "admissions and nondiscrimination policies" to ensure healthcare services are available to all of the District's residents.
The District remains a viable and valuable organization to supplement those services now performed contractually by RCCH. It retains the opportunity to adapt to meet new needs and to focus new resources for the benefit of the District's residents.
Superintendent, Leland B. Kerr
Mr. Kerr was appointed as Superintendent in 2018, and retired from law practice in 2019.
Since 1974 he practiced law in the Tri-CIties and surrounding region in municipal representations including: Cities of Pasco, Mesa, Sunnyside and Benton City, the Personnel Board of the City of Richland, Kennewick Public Facility District, Pasco Public Facility District, Tourism Promotion Area, and Hearing Examiner for the City of Walla Walla, as well as served as special counsel for other public entities.
His municipal experience equips him with valuable skills for pursuing projects for land development, UGA Development Agreements, land use issue and permitting. A substantial portion of his experience in serving health care and other professional service providers lends expertise and insight in his current role for the District.