MOSES LAKE — The future of the former Samaritan Hospital building in Moses Lake remains uncertain as local officials continue discussions with the state about the possibility of converting the property into a behavioral health facility.
Gretchen Youngren, Director of Communications for Samaritan Healthcare, said on Tuesday the information previously shared about potential interest from the State of Washington remains accurate but that no agreement has been finalized.
“At this time we don’t have anything specific that we can share,” Youngren said in an email to Source ONE News on Tuesday. “However, we continue to work with the state on the possibility of behavioral health services. There are additional interested parties, however nothing has been finalized.”
The former hospital building and the adjacent Professional Building are currently listed for sale. During a recent tour of the property last week, it was mentioned that offers had been made and that the state was considering purchasing the hospital property for behavioral health services.
Officials have not confirmed whether negotiations are ongoing or when a decision about the sale could be made.
The future of the existing hospital property comes as Samaritan prepares to open a new, modern hospital campus in Moses Lake.
The new Samaritan Hospital, located along Yonezawa Boulevard, is scheduled to begin seeing patients March 7. The facility represents a major investment in health care infrastructure for the Columbia Basin, with a total project cost of about $225 million.
Construction on the replacement hospital began in October 2023 after voters approved a $130 million bond in April of that year to help finance the project. The remaining funding comes from loans issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The three-story hospital spans roughly 174,000 square feet and is designed to modernize and expand services for the growing Moses Lake region. Outpatient services such as laboratory work, imaging and rehabilitation will be located on the ground floor, while obstetrics and surgical departments will be housed on the second floor. Acute care and intensive care units will occupy the third floor.
The new campus also includes larger operating rooms designed for advanced procedures, expanded emergency services and outdoor healing spaces for patients and families.
Hospital officials say the new facility replaces the existing 50-bed hospital building constructed in 1955 and is intended to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community while allowing room for future expansion.
Meanwhile, the fate of the old hospital campus — and whether it could be repurposed to address behavioral health needs in the region — remains under discussion. Officials say additional interested parties have also expressed interest in the property, though no deals have been finalized.
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