Join Bellingham City Club for our February program.

The costs, the access to, and the quality of healthcare was on everyone’s mind as we watched the battles in the other Washington, from changes to Medicaid to the increasing costs of Obamacare. Whatcom County residents are in shock as they open their bills for healthcare insurance in 2026. Many people are choosing to go without insurance, making healthcare a problem for all taxpayers. There is no one answer to solve this, but many communities neighboring Whatcom County have pursued the option of a Public Hospital District to expand healthcare access and public health programs. What is a Public Hospital District, how many do we have near us, and is this a partial answer to our crisis in healthcare?

Matt Ellsworth is the Executive Director of the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts (AWPHD), where he leads statewide advocacy, governance support, and strategic initiatives for Washington’s public hospital districts. His work centers on strengthening community‑owned health systems and partnering closely with the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) to advance policy and operational excellence. He serves as the chief leader of the organization, guiding advocacy, education, and member services for Washington’s 58 Public Hospital Districts.

Jon Scanlon serves as the At Large Councilmember on the Whatcom County Council. He is Council Vice-chairperson and Chair of the Whatcom County Board of Health. He has 20 years experience in public policy and advocacy at the local, state, federal and global level. As a consultant, Jon assists organizations with rights-based public policy and advocacy work.