EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin Hospital Board of Commissioners met for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday to discuss Rural Health Transformation Program funding and approve a waiver of qualifications for Dr. Kori Hunt to make her active staff.

Columbia Basin Hospital Chief Executive Officer Rosalinda Kibby said Washington is getting around $181 million to support rural health care from RHTP.

“This is the state’s endeavor to ensure that every rural resident has reliable access to quality health care in their community and make rural Washington a desirable place for residents to consider homes across their lives,” Kibby said.

She said the funding will help offset some of the effects of House Resolution 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which reduced Medicaid funding. She said the hospital saw a 10% impact.

“But does this make up the gap of what you’re going to lose? No. Nor can you spend it in the areas where you are losing it,” Kibby said. “But it will help offset some of our costs.”

Kibby said the hospital has begun working on a five-year plan to get some of the state-allocated funding. However, she said there are still a lot of unknowns on what the funds may be used for.

“There’s so many unknowns right now. So, you’re going to be getting more updates from me in your board meetings,” Kibby said. “I just wanted to introduce it to you. We expect to have most of the money that we’re going to apply for in any of these areas done by June.”

The commissioners also unanimously approved a resolution waiving Dr. Kori Hunt to become active staff before she finishes her provisional year.

“The medical staff only has one active staff physician, and that is Dr. Alexander Brzezny and that is because of the way the bylaws are written,” Kibby said. “He is the only one eligible. Dr. Hunt is eligible once she finishes her provisional year, which would be up in September, but the bylaws do allow for a waiver to provide that would allow her to become active staff earlier than that.”