WHIDBEY: Hospital, HealthTech at odds as board eyes contract
Kira Erickson reports from the Island County Board of Health meeting of Mon., Feb. 23, 2026, for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
WhidbeyHealth’s relationship with management company HealthTech has frayed over governance disputes, contract costs, and revenue-cycle performance, prompting staff and some commissioners to push for ending the agreement early. Letters obtained via public records show tensions began in 2025, when board members Marion Jouas and Gregory Richardson accused HealthTech of overreaching into day-to-day operations and challenging the board’s authority over CEO employment. The conflict escalated after a short-lived move to fire CEO Nathan Staggs, followed by two commissioner resignations and a medical staff vote of no confidence in HealthTech but support for Staggs and CFO Paul Rogers. HealthTech’s chair disputed the overreach claims, defended the contract’s terms and its revenue-cycle assistance, and highlighted free consulting support, while the board now weighs legal and financial risks of the contract in executive session.
They Said It
During a meeting Thursday night, members of the hospital board went into executive session with attorneys to discuss HealthTech. Marion Jouas, the president of the hospital board, said the reason for the closed-door session was to discuss “existing or reasonably expected litigation” or “litigation or legal risks expected to result in adverse legal or financial consequences.”
Jouas said in an email earlier this week that she is the liaison between the the hospital district and HealthTech.
“I had a conversation last week with a Healthtech representative about our ongoing relationship,” she wrote. “I related to them the entire Board of Commissioners will evaluate our future relationship as we fill our board positions to best represent our community.”
