In 1945, the Washington State Legislature granted local communities the authority to create hospital districts.  The state has 54 public hospital districts, whose operations are governed by state law (RCW 70.44).  These districts own and operate hospitals and other health-care facilities.  Public Hospital Districts heavily rely on tax revenue and other non-operating income to achieve a positive net income.  Today, nearly one-half of Washington's 90 hospitals are part of public hospital districts. Kittitas Valley Healthcare is own and operated by Kittitas County Hospital District No. 1

​

Districts’ activities are overseen by boards of commissioners, members of which typically are elected to six-year terms. These boards may have three-, five- or seven-members Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. board has five members.  The boards are required to appoint a hospital administrator to oversee day-to-day operations as well as its 500 employees.  For the year under audit, the District operates on annual budgets of approximately $70 million. 

​

Most revenue generated by districts comes from fees for medical services. These payments are collected either directly from patients or from third-party payees such as insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. State law also allows public hospital districts to levy property taxes and to put special levies and bond issues before voters.

​

Public hospital districts fulfill a vital role in the state's healthcare system. Without them many people would be unable to receive healthcare in their own communities. Hospital districts are authorized not only to operate a hospital, but to deliver any service to help people stay healthy—physically, socially, and mentally. Because they're owned and governed by local citizens, hospital districts tailor their services to meet the unique needs of their individual communities. It is this community-based mission that defines and distinguishes hospital districts from other healthcare entities.

​

To learn more about the important role public health district hospitals play in Washington State healthcare visit the Association of Washington Public Health Districts website.