February 2019
Volume 7 • Issue 1
Kennewick public hospital board shifts its focus BY ROBIN WOJTANIK for Senior Times
RDO launches new store in Kennewick
Page 3
Prosser Memorial Health opens new clinics Page 9
2019 Ag Hall of Fame inductees
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Regional Home and Garden Show Feb. 22-24 TRAC 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco
Pharmacy’s prescription for success? Customer service
Tri-City’s only free medical clinic sees rise in patient volumes, visits
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No longer tasked with operating a large hospital, leaders of the Kennewick Public Hospital District are focusing their sights on how best to serve the community going forward. “We will try to make the most impact RX Pharmacy technician Justin Hunter shows how many prescriptions we can with the money we have,” said often go into a bubble pack, which serve as pre-made pill boxes for Marvin Kinney, commissioner and board patients. The service, along with free delivery, has helped the indepenpresident for the Kennewick Public dent Richland pharmacy grow since opening in 2014. Hospital District. “And that’s going to mean partnering and being innovative.” The district collects about $1.3 million a year through property taxes, with about 80 percent of this going to the new owners of Trios Health. Tennessee-based RCCH BY KEVIN ANTHONY HealthCare Partners bought Trios and I wish that I could just clock out for the for Senior Times Lourdes Health in Pasco last year, but it day and know I’m getting a full paymerged with another health care system check and not have to worry about that,” Randy Johnson is big on challenges. called LifePoint Health months later in Johnson said. “But I think at the same It’s why the owner of RX Pharmacy November and is now known by this time that’s not really in my nature. I’ve on the Kadlec campus in Richland name. always been driven toward leadership jumped right in as a pharmacist and store After the payment to LifePoint what and a challenge, and the business stuff manager straight out of college. remains for the district totals about interests me. It’s why he went from working behind $260,000 a year. “Granted, I lose a lot of sleep over it the counter for one of the biggest chains “The purpose of the district is to provide and it’s not the easiest, but I don’t think in the nation to opening up his own health care services for the citizens of the I’d want it any other way.” shop. district, which is a large part of Benton Competing in an industry dominated And it’s a big part of why his indepenCounty. Its mission has been that for 50 by big chains like Walgreens, Rite Aid, dent pharmacy has grown into a thriving some odd years now, and that hasn’t Walmart and CVS is not for the timid. business in four-and-a-half years. changed,” said Leland Kerr, superintenuRX PHARMACY, Page 2 “Certainly you have those days where dent of the Kennewick Public Hospital District. “We’re done running a hospital but we still have a district,” Kinney said. The sale of the hospital system closed in August 2018 and since then, the board has been focusing on tying up loose ends. The process didn’t end neatly on the day BY ELSIE PUIG experiencing becomes so severe, someof the sale, as the district had to unwind for Senior Times times it gets addressed too late.” issues with pensions, workers’ compensaThe most recent estimates from the tion claims and indemnifications. Grace Clinic — the only free medical Washington Insurance Commissioner uHOSPITAL, Page 14 clinic in the Tri-Cities — is seeing a indicate that there are 32,000 people in greater volume of patients, pointing to a the Tri-City community without medical greater need for volunteers and services. insurance. In 2018, patient volume increased by “If you look across the business com35 percent and there was a 25 percent munity, there is only a small percentage increase in new patients over the previof retail, service and agriculture industry ous year. Last year, the Kennewick clinic that provide health benefits,” Brault said. treated 1,200 to 1,300 patients, which To qualify for treatment at Grace accounted for about 7,000 patient visits. Clinic, patients must prove they have “If you don’t have insurance and you income at or below 200 percent of feddon’t have a means to pay out of pocket, eral poverty level. That means a family there aren’t other options,” said Mark of four must earn $4,183 in gross monthBrault, volunteer CEO for Grace Clinic. ly income, or $50,200 in gross yearly “There is the emergency room, and income, to qualify. there’s us. Until the problem they’re uGRACE CLINIC, Page 7
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