Astria Health Denounces Passage of “Big Beautiful Bill” as Catastrophic Blow to Local Health Care
SUNNYSIDE, WA, July 3, 2025 — Astria Health is gravely disappointed by Congress's passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes sweeping cuts to Medicaid reimbursements. This decision threatens to dismantle local health care infrastructure and will have a particularly devastating impact on Astria Toppenish Hospital and the communities it serves.
For more than three years, Astria Health has worked relentlessly with Washington state delegates to protect Astria Toppenish Hospital and secure a financially sustainable future for the hospital that serves several rural communities including Toppenish, White Swan, Wapato, Granger, Mabton, Parker, Buena, Outlook, and Zillah. Congress was fully informed of the health disparities and demographic realities of this region, yet still chose to pass legislation that jeopardizes care for tens of thousands. This vote dismantles a well-advanced plan—supported by grants and community partnerships—to make Behavioral Health the financial foundation of Astria Toppenish Hospital, which was on track to reach profitability by the end of 2026. That path is now in serious jeopardy.
Astria Health remains steadfast in our commitment to serving the people of the Yakima Valley. We are again forced to carefully evaluate all potential paths forward for Astria Toppenish Hospital. These include, but are not limited to, changes to services, consolidation of operations with Astria Sunnyside Hospital, or exploring partnerships such as acquisition or merger with another healthcare organization.
By federal law, hospitals are required to provide emergency medical care to anyone who comes to the hospital, regardless of their insurance status, citizenship, or ability to pay. By providing Medicaid coverage for a smaller portion of the community, the burden of paying for medical care for uninsured patients falls directly on the hospital. Every option for Astria Toppenish Hospital is being considered with one goal in mind: preserving access to care for the communities who rely on us.
Brian Gibbons, President and CEO of Astria Health stated, “We have stretched resources as far as they can go. But no health system—especially one serving multiple underserved communities—can continue reallocating funds without consequences.”
Let us be unequivocally clear: without immediate and positive changes to Medicaid reimbursement, Congress is threatening to consign our communities to a medical desert—abandoning their responsibility to the very people they were elected to serve.
Astria Health’s executive leadership remains committed to continue working with state and federal partners to mitigate the consequences of this harmful legislation. But our trust in this process has been deeply shaken. Astria Toppenish Hospital Administrator, Cathy Bambrick, added, “The facts have been on the table. The consequences were made clear. Congress chose to look the other way.”
Despite today’s decision, Astria Health will continue to fight for the people we serve, educating lawmakers every step of the way. Our patients are not numbers on a budget spreadsheet. They are families, elders, workers, and children who deserve access to quality care—no matter their ZIP code.
We will not stay silent. We will not stand down.
About Astria Health
Astria Health is a nonprofit, community-focused health system serving the rural and underserved communities of the Lower Yakima Valley in Central Washington. Our mission is to provide access to trusted, exceptional healthcare close to home—compassionate, high-quality care for every patient—regardless of income, language, or background. For more information, visit www.astria.health.
Posted July 03, 2025