By Shannon Lukens.

 

Memorial Regional Health CEO Jennifer Riley with State Rep. Meghan Lukens at the State Capitol.

 

A new bill passed in the State Legislature could directly benefit Memorial Regional Health in Craig. The bipartisan Senate Bill 68 is the Operations of County Public Hospitals Act. It helps four county-owned Colorado Rural Hospitals, one of which is Memorial Regional Health, so that these facilities can receive 5% of county funds from their respective counties if County Commissioners agree. The current state statute wouldn’t allow it.

“Rural and frontier hospitals in Colorado confront unique financial challenges. Senate Bill 68 is one way to help rural hospitals alleviate some of these obstacles.”

That’s Meghan Lukens, the co-sponsor of the bill and also the Colorado State Representative for House District 26, which includes Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Eagle counties.

 

Here’s more in a press release from the office of Representative Lukens; March 21, 2023.

 

Representative Meghan Lukens Helps Colorado Rural Hospitals with Passage of Bi-Partisan Senate Bill 68

 

CRAIG, Colo – Former school teacher and current Colorado State Representative Meghan Lukens from District 26 (Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt) sponsored an important piece of legislation to assist rural Colorado hospitals.

Senate Bill 68 – the Operations of County Public Hospitals Act – passed third reading in the Colorado House of Representatives on March 20, 2023.

“Rural and frontier hospitals in Colorado confront unique financial challenges. Senate Bill 68 is one way to help rural hospitals alleviate some of these obstacles,” said Representative Lukens.

Senate Bill 68 will allow four, county owned hospitals in Craig, Lincoln County, Julesburg, and Gunnison, Colorado to receive more than 5% of County funds from their respective County if their County Commissioners agree. Current statute prohibits counties from investing more than 5% of county funds in their local hospital.

“For rural counties who are trying to build new hospitals or expand operations to better serve patients, current statute is an obstacle. Senate Bill 68 will correct this problem,” said Jennifer Riley, CEO of Memorial Regional Health.

Senate Bill 68 also creates more transparency and accountability for the four local Hospital Board of Trustees regarding financial matters, such as owning real property in their name, borrowing funds, and related financial matters.

Last month, Senate Bill 68 passed unanimously in both the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee and in the Colorado State Senate. The bill has strong bi-partisan support and is co-sponsored in the House by Representative Rose Pugliese (R).

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