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Dear Community Members,

As the CEO of Memorial Regional Health, one of my most important responsibilities is to ensure that the people of Moffat County continue to have access to high-quality care close to home. While we work hard every day to deliver on that promise, I want to share with you a growing concern that could jeopardize rural healthcare across Colorado and the nation.

Several federal policy proposals currently under consideration threaten the long-term sustainability of hospitals like ours. These include significant cuts to essential rural health programs and legislation that would weaken the 340B Drug Pricing Program—one of the few
tools available to hospitals that serve vulnerable populations. These changes may seem distant, but the impact here at home would be real and immediate.

At MRH, the savings we receive through the 340B program—more than $1.2 million annually— help fund critical services that do not pay for themselves, like Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Our EMS team covers one of the largest geographic areas in Colorado and provides the only advanced life support care in Northwest Colorado. These funds also help us deliver infusion therapy, offset more than $750,000 in charity care each year, and ensure continued access to care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

In addition, the proposed Federal cuts to the Medicaid program could cost MRH over $2 million annually. With an operating margin of just 3.4%, losses of this scale would force difficult decisions that could affect care delivery, staffing, and service availability.

Rural hospitals operate on razor-thin margins. We don’t have the luxury of large reserves or expansive networks. What we do have is a deep commitment to our communities and a track record of doing more with less. That’s why I am speaking out—because the policies being
debated today will shape the future of healthcare in Northwest Colorado.

I will continue to advocate for our patients, our staff, and our community. I invite you to learn more about these issues and join us in standing up for rural healthcare. If you’d like to help, I encourage you to reach out to your state and federal representatives and share what MRH
means to you.

Thank you for trusting us with your care. It is an honor to serve this community.

Warmly,

Jennifer Riley, MHA, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer