Rising costs, decreasing revenue have impact on Samaritan financial picture

MOSES LAKE — It’s been an economically bumpy 2022 for Samaritan Healthcare, and the tough economic times contributed to the decision by hospital board members to delay the start of construction of a new Samaritan Hospital. Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with the hospital on the construction project, said the cost-benefit analysis is the same for Samaritan as for any business, or even a home loan. “There’s the capital cost of the project itself,” Kunkel said. “But then there’s the underlying feasibility study that says to the (lender) that you have an operation that can pay the mortgage.” . .