Anticipated cuts to Medicaid could devastate rural communities like Clallam County, leading to more emergency room visits, law enforcement calls and preventable suffering, according to Peninsula Behavioral Health CEO Wendy Sisk.
These concerns were the focus of discussion during Wednesday’s Coffee with Colleen, a weekly Zoom forum hosted by Clallam Economic Development Council Executive Director Colleen McAleer. The conversation centered on the local impact of the recently passed federal legislation, informally dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Passed under the Trump administration, the bill’s full effects —particularly changes to Medicaid eligibility and funding—are only now beginning to take shape.
“We anticipate a rise in costly services like emergency department visits, law enforcement contacts and more visits to jail,” Sisk said during the meeting. “People without insurance are less likely to take care of their needs while there are small problems, and as they escalate, they tend to cost more once the system has to respond.”
Sisk emphasized that reduced access to Medicaid could cause individuals to delay care until mental health issues become severe, which in turn would put greater strain on emergency services and increase long-term costs. She added that rural hospitals like Olympic Medical Center are already bracing for impact, with some warning they may be forced to cut services, lay off staff or shut down entirely due to the funding shortfall.
Washington state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend, who also joined the meeting, echoed concerns about the bill’s long-term financial implications. Tharinger noted that the bill has a 10-year financial projection, making it difficult to gauge the immediate effects. He also pointed out a troubling inefficiency: “The paperwork—and the cost of the paperwork—exceeds any savings,” he said, adding that corporate manipulation, rather than individual abuse, is largely to blame for funding misuse.
Despite the challenges ahead, Sisk remains hopeful.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said. Since its founding in 1971 with just three staff members, Peninsula Behavioral Health has expanded into a comprehensive agency offering mental health care, housing assistance, employment support, and many other vital services.
Sisk affirmed that PBH is currently delivering the best care in its history and remains committed to making services available to individuals and families regardless of their income or ability to pay. The organization plans to strengthen its fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of care for those who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t fully cover their treatment needs across the North Olympic Peninsula.
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Reporting intern Allora Walls is a student at Peninsula College. She can be reached by email at allora.walls@peninsuladailynews.com.
