Greetings from Rangely District Hospital

As winter settles in and snowfall increases, we encourage all community members to exercise caution. Roadways and sidewalks are becoming increasingly slippery, and your safety remains our highest priority. While it is always a pleasure to connect with our community, we certainly prefer not to meet you under emergency circumstances.

I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on current activities at Rangely District Hospital, as well as recent legislative developments of significance. The “Big Beautiful Bill,” recently passed at the federal level, allocates new funding to rural hospitals—resources that may soon impact our community in meaningful ways.

Annual Holiday Celebration
Each year, one or more hospital departments take responsibility for planning our annual Christmas celebration. This year, the Dietary and Purchasing departments have taken the lead. We extend our sincere appreciation for their dedication and for their efforts in raising funds throughout the year to provide gifts and prizes for our staff.

Our annual Christmas party will be held on December 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During this event, we will recognize several outstanding individuals and teams, including the Employee of the Year, Department of the Year, and “Fred of the Year,” an award inspired by the Fred Factor customer service philosophy. The commitment of our staff to exceptional patient care continues to inspire us, and I look forward to sharing the names of this year’s recipients in my next update.

Health Insurance Transition
Rangely District Hospital is making a transition to UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plan. Since joining the CEBT trust in 2017, we have experienced steady increases in insurance premiums. After careful consideration, we have chosen to partner with the brokerage firm NFP, a move that enables us to secure lower premiums and greater flexibility in our dental and vision offerings.

A notable benefit of this change is that Dr. Grant, our local dentist, will now be an in-network provider for our employees. Previously, both Dr. Myers and Dr. Grant were out of network. We anticipate that this new arrangement will significantly improve convenience and cost savings for our staff. In the future, we hope to extend similar opportunities to local businesses by offering more affordable, direct-contract healthcare options.

Rural Health Transformation Program
At the federal level, $50 billion has been designated for the Rural Health Transformation Program, to be distributed among all 50 states. Colorado is projected to receive an average of approximately $500 million over a five-year period. The state has submitted its application and expects to receive notification by December 31st regarding funding for the 2026–2027 program years.

Our hospital will apply to the State of Colorado next year to determine our eligibility for these funds. We intend to identify service lines, educational initiatives, and unmet care needs within our community that may benefit from this support. While details regarding distribution and program structure remain forthcoming, we are committed to keeping the community informed as more information becomes available.

Conclusion
As we move into the winter season and approach the end of the year, Rangely District Hospital remains committed to advancing the quality of care we provide and strengthening our partnerships within the community. We appreciate your continued trust and support as we navigate new opportunities, implement organizational improvements, and advocate for the resources our rural healthcare system needs. It is our honor to serve you, and we look forward to updating you on our progress in the months ahead.