Press Releases

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04) to introduce the Ensuring Rural Health Care Access for Military and Tribal Families Act. This legislation would allow Island Health, a rural hospital in Anacortes, to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital.   

“As health care costs continue to rise, rural hospitals that provide care for local servicemembers, like Island Health in Anacortes, are struggling to maintain their current operations,” said Rep. Larsen. “This legislation will help more rural hospitals receive Critical Access Hospital designation, creating a cost-saving lifeline that will preserve vital services and ensure quality medical care for servicemembers. I will keep fighting to protect rural hospitals and the communities they serve in Northwest Washington.” 

Island Health is one of the few rural hospitals in WA without access to the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation. This classification would unlock higher Medicare reimbursement rates and provide access to the 340B drug discount program. Of the nearly 44,000 patients that Island Health serves annually, 78% use government-sponsored insurance, including 55% who use Medicare. Island Health estimates that receiving a CAH designation would remove the need to reduce their current medical services, including their labor and delivery care, and help close the financial gap they are facing. 

“Americans deserve the best medical care, regardless of where they live. In rural areas access to quality, essential health care services remains a challenge,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Critical Access Hospital designation requirements are rigid, and flexibility is needed to ensure rural hospitals have the federal support and resources to bridge health care accessibility gaps. Specifically, this legislation would allow Astria Toppenish to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital, providing the facility long-term financial certainty to continue delivering care to military and tribal families in the Yakima Valley. I thank Rep. Larsen for joining me in this important effort that will improve health care services in rural areas across the country.” 

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Representatives Dan Newhouse and Rick Larsen for prioritizing this legislation to help ensure our local community and military families continue to have access to essential healthcare services, including labor and delivery care,” said Island Health CEO Elise Cutter. “In 2025, Island Health delivered more than 400 babies, 40% of which were military families stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey.” 

“Astria Health has spent years pursuing innovative solutions to strengthen healthcare access in the Lower Yakima Valley,” said Cathy Bambrick, CEO, Astria Toppenish Hospital. “This legislation represents an important step toward ensuring hospitals serving rural and underserved populations have the resources needed to remain viable for generations to come. Critical Access Hospital designation would improve reimbursement, strengthen local healthcare infrastructure, and help preserve essential services for the communities that rely on them every day. We sincerely thank Congressman Dan Newhouse for his tireless work developing this legislation and for his support of rural healthcare across Central Washington and the nation.” 

The full text of the Ensuring Rural Health Care Access for Military and Tribal Families Act can be found here.  

Larsen Fights for Affordable Health Care 

Increasing access to affordable health care in Northwest Washington is a top priority for Rep. Larsen. He is fighting to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, and has hosted roundtables with Northwest Washington community members to discuss policies to expand access to affordable health care, including his legislation that would reverse burdensome paperwork requirements in Medicaid.