Making a Difference: Our Healthcare Leadership in Washington DC

Representative Russ Fulcher2

St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health CEO Lenne Bonner, also serving as the 2025 Idaho Hospital Association Board Chair, recently traveled to Washington DC to advocate directly with our elected officials.
Pictured L-R are: Brian Whitlock, President/CEO, Idaho Hospital Association, Steve Ackerman, Chris Roth, President/CEO St. Luke’s Health System, Lenne Bonner, CEO St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health, Idaho Hospital Association Board Chair, Representative Russ Fulcher, Jake Erickson, CEO Bingham Memorial and Karrah Spendlove.

By Ashley Steinbruecker, Director of Marketing and Communications, CVH

 

ADVOCACY

St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health CEO Lenne Bonner, also serving as the 2025 Idaho Hospital Association Board Chair, recently traveled to Washington DC to advocate directly with our elected officials. Together with healthcare leaders from across Idaho, Lenne met with Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, and Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch to deliver key messages about the critical importance of Medicaid funding for rural healthcare.

 

POLICY

The timing is crucial—House committees with jurisdiction over Medicaid begin marking up their portions of the budget reconciliation bill on May 13th. With the House Energy and Commerce Committee instructed to reduce deficits by $880 billion, significant Medicaid cuts under consideration could dramatically impact healthcare delivery in our communities.

 

INFLUENCE

By joining forces with leaders from Idaho’s healthcare community, including executives from St. Luke’s Health System, Bingham Memorial Hospital, Trinity Health, and St. Alphonsus Health System, our voice is amplified in these critical discussions that will shape the future of healthcare funding.

 

We’re proud that our leadership is representing the needs of Clearwater Valley Health, St. Mary’s Health, and all rural Idaho hospitals at the national level. Stay tuned for updates on this vital healthcare funding issue.