Hospital to continue maternity services

COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics will continue to offer obstetrics services while working with the state to meet abortion-related requirements.

During the Wednesday, March 20, Whitman County Public Hospital District Commission meeting, four commissioners voted to continue obstetric services. Commissioner Kathy Wride abstained from the vote.

The meeting took place in the administrative annex at the hospital. Only about 10 people were allowed; many of those seats were occupied by hospital employees, forcing the public outside. A hospital employee blocked the door, preventing anyone who did not previously sign up from entering.

The decision during the meeting followed two previous sessions on the topic. Last month, commissioners voted to “pause” obstetrics to avoid having to offer elective abortions and related information services in accordance with state law. Then earlier this month, commissioners rescinded that decision, allowing for birthing services to continue.

On March 20, board Vice-President Michele Beckmann moved to continue birthing operations at Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics.

Board President Georgie Leinweber, downplayed the previous actions, suggesting neither the community nor hospital staff understood the decisions.

Referral options

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, spoke during the board meeting, noting he had been talking with the state Attorney Generals’ Office.

According to Schmick, the hospital can continue birthing services if it works with other organizations, like Planned Parenthood and Washington State University clinics in Pullman, to comply with the Reproductive Privacy Act. The act governs patient privacy, while also mandating abortion services.

He said the closure was premature and that the Attorney General’s Office was willing to let the commission work out the details.

But the letter from State Attorney General Robert “Bob” Ferguson to the public hospital district gave officials until Dec. 15 to provide details on how they would comply with state law.

State Managing Assistant Attorney General Teri Healy was present at the meeting and clarified that the University of Washington Reproductive Alliance will work to help hospitals come in compliance with the law.

“University of Washington is telling us they will be up and running with the Alliance in July,” Healy said, adding she recommends hospital officials be in close contact with University of Washington.

The discussion of the subject stems from Ferguson’s Nov. 22 letter , which said the hospital must be in compliance with the act by December if it is to continue birthing services. That means elective abortions would have to be allowed.

Schmick said the local hospital is not the only one to receive a letter.

According to records from the Attorney General’s Office multiple other hospital districts received a letter from the Attorney General’s Office including, Public Hospital District No. 1-A doing business as Pullman Regional Hospital, and Public Hospital District No. 4 in Tekoa, doing business as Whitman Medical Clinic, through a contract with Whitman Hospital in Colfax.

Pullman Regional Hospital spokeswoman Alison Weigley said her hospital’s policy provides for equality in services for both birthing and abortion services.

“We’re in compliance with the Washington Reproductive Act,” Weigley said, adding the Pullman hospital is also in compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, and the Emergency Care provided to Victims off Sexual Assault Act.

“We provide all services that we have the ability to safely perform at the direction of a provider and on behalf of their patient,” she said.

According to its website, Tekoa Medical Clinic was created in 2013 residents of the district to provide healthcare services. But Public Hospital District No. 4 Commissioner Karen Blomgren could not say why the district would be listed as non-compliant.

Hospital policy

Back in Colfax, Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics has a reproductive care policy that expires Dec. 14. That policy, approved Dec. 15, 2023, said the district complies with the Reproductive Privacy Act.

“Medical referrals for reproductive health issues are treated the same as any other medical referral,” according to the policy. “In an emergency situation, the provider will make direct contact with the referral group or provider, and if needed arrangements will be made to ensure safe transport of the patient to that accepting provider.”

The policy further states that maternity care benefits, services or information, as well as substantially equivalent benefits, services or information is provided to all women.

In a response from the Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday, March 6, officials agreed to talk further about how the participating in the Washington Reproductive Access Alliance.

“We would also like to discuss legal concerns we may have, should the Hospital District decide to eliminate reproductive services rather than comply with the RPA,” Ferguson’s letter stated, adding that a 30-day extension was added in anticipation of the discussion and ongoing cooperation.