Why doesn't the RHCD just raise 1 more mil themselves?
A Special Hospital District is the only option that allows the Sublette Center to merge as an equal partner. The Sublette Center Board majority and the Sublette Center administration agree that this is the best path forward to combine the two organizations. Without the new Special Hospital District, the Sublette Center and the Sublette County Rural Health Care District (RHCD) cannot officially merge because you cannot merge a nonprofit with a governmental entity. The RHCD would have to acquire the Sublette Center, and the Sublette Center would risk losing their voice. A Special Hospital District would allow a true merger where both entities could be equally represented.
The idea for a critical access hospital began roughly six years ago under a different RHCD board. Failure to obtain support in the entire county, including the Sublette Center, made the effort very polarizing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) even denied the loan application for the hospital and suggested that the solution include both groups working together.
The USDA loan is necessary to build the hospital. After discussions, the Sublette Center and RHCD agreed to merge together to create a new health care system owned, operated and governed by a Special Hospital District, and build one new campus to house a modest critical access hospital, utilizing the existing Pinedale Clinic building with an attached new long-term care facility and memory care unit. Additionally, the Sublette County Commissioners agreed to provide up to $20 million to build the long-term care facility wing, but only if the Special Hospital District passed.
A Special Hospital District equates to a merger of two groups for better healthcare for all ages. If the RHCD proceeded alone, the USDA loan application could likely be denied again for lack of community support. More importantly, the Sublette Center would be stuck with an aging facility and, as a nonprofit, no way to obtain its own USDA loan to build a new facility.
The best path forward is working together!