Frequently Asked Questions: Negotiations Underway With Sea Mar Community Health Centers to Operate the Lopez Medical Clinic

WHAT’S NEXT?

Upcoming LIHD meetings regarding the discussions with Sea Mar include:

Wednesday, February 18, 6 pm – Special Meeting of the LIHD Commissioners, Lopez Island Family Resource Center meeting room and Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3903428884?omn=82911823390

Monday, February 23, 5:30 pm – Community Town Hall to learn more about Sea Mar, Lopez Community Center and Zoom Webinar https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85189870659

Wednesday, February 25, 4 pm – Regular Meeting of the LIHD Commissioners, Lopez Island Family Resource Center meeting room and Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3903428884?omn=85239995328

Visit https://lopezislandhd.org/news/ for more information about our potential partnership with Sea Mar and meeting announcements and https://lopezislandhd.org/transition/ for the history of the clinic transition. To learn more about Sea Mar’s mission visit https://www.seamar.org/

QUALITY HEALTH CARE

What services will Sea Mar provide at the Lopez Clinic?

From initial discussions, we anticipate Sea Mar would offer similar hours of operation and services as a minimum. Sea Mar has responded positively to a future exploration of expansion of services, including closer coordination with Lopez Fire/EMS.

Will Sea Mar provide a doctor for Lopez?

Sea Mar has responded positively to the requirement that the Lopez Clinic have at least one doctor.

I’m seeing a UW specialist in Seattle. Will I be able to continue to do that under Sea Mar?

Sea Mar health clinics routinely refer patients to specialists throughout Western Washington.

All my health records are in MyChart – how will I access them?

MyChart is the records system used by Sea Mar health clinics, so we anticipate a smooth transition between UW and Sea Mar.

Will Sea Mar work with the Lopez Pharmacy and Physical Therapy?

In initial discussions, we have emphasized how important these connections are to Lopez and Sea Mar has responded positively.

I’m not familiar with SeaMar. What do their patients think of the care they receive?

Patient experience surveys shared by Sea Mar from 2025 indicate high levels of patient satisfaction, especially interactions with providers.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Can we cover start-up costs with Sea Mar?

Through careful financial management, the Lopez Island Hospital District has built up a reserve that is sufficient to cover anticipated start-up costs. The District’s reserve stands at $600,000 as of January 2026.

Why do you expect the Sea Mar subsidy to be lower than the support provided to UW?

Sea Mar is a Federally Qualified Health Center, which would enable the Lopez Medical Clinic to receive additional federal resources.

Will we need a property tax increase to cover the subsidy for Sea Mar?

A reduced subsidy from the Hospital District suggests that no additional tax levy would be anticipated and funds may be available to explore investments in other services such as after-hours care.

INFORMED BY LOPEZ VIEWS AND VALUES

What makes Sea Mar a good fit for Lopez?

Operating more than 90 community-based clinics, Sea Mar has a 48-year history of delivering quality primary health care to diverse communities in Washington State. Many Sea Mar clinics are located in small communities and rural areas.

Sea Mar is a nonprofit corporation founded by Latino community activists and health advocates who sought to establish a Seattle health center, with satellite clinics in rural communities. In 1978, Sea Mar opened its first clinic in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood and in 1985, it opened a second clinic in Mount Vernon in the Skagit Valley.

What experience does Sea Mar have serving small communities like Lopez?

Sea Mar has many clinics operating in small communities and rural areas. A few examples in Northwest Washington include:

Skagit County:

Mount Vernon Women’s Clinic

Mount Vernon Medical Clinic

Mount Vernon Maternity Services

Mount Vernon Dental Clinic

Mount Vernon Health Care for the Homeless

Anacortes Behavioral Health Clinic

Concrete Medical Clinic

Island County:

Oak Harbor Dental Clinic

Oak Harbor Behavioral Health Clinic

Whatcom County:

Everson Medical Clinic

Ferndale WIC and Maternity Support Services Clinic

Clallam County:

Port Angeles Dental Clinic

Snohomish County:

Monroe Medical Clinic

Monroe Dental Clinic

Monroe Maternity Services

INDEPENDENT CLINIC

What happened to the exploration of having an independent clinic?

While negotiations with Sea Mar are underway, exploration of the option of an independent clinic continues.

A joint committee of the Hospital District and the Catherine Washburn Medical Association vigorously explored the option of establishing an independent clinic on Lopez. An independent clinic would operate without support from a larger off-island partner for back office and clinic operation expertise.

This exploration included consultations with outside consultants with legal and financial expertise and revealed significant legal and administrative hurdles to establishing an independent clinic under Washington state law.

Extensive research by community members and expert consultants has revealed several daunting requirements for an independent clinic, including developing a new business structure and identifying affordable sources for required centralized systems. Research into Washington State law revealed that the Hospital District cannot by law operate the clinic or hire medical personnel directly.

Of the eight health systems responding to our request for proposals, all but Sea Mar have either withdrawn from consideration to provide a long term solution or it has been determined they are unable to meet the community requirements to operate the clinic. 

An independent clinic remains an option if the negotiations with Sea Mar are not fruitful.

If Sea Mar is a good fit for Lopez, why are the LIHD and CWMA continuing to put time and money into exploration of an independent clinic model?

  The LIHD and CWMA are continuing to review with Sea Mar the required and desired services identified through a community survey and listening sessions with key community leaders and health care partners. So far, discussions with Sea Mar suggest that it could meet our needs. However, negotiations are still in progress, so the LIHD and CWMA feel it is wise to continue to explore how to overcome the complexities of an independent practice if partnership negotiations aren’t fruitful.

NEXT STEPS

Will there be an opportunity for the public to learn more about Sea Mar?

Yes, a Town Hall has been scheduled to give Lopez residents the opportunity to learn more about Sea Mar and ask questions:

Monday, February 23, 5:30 – 7:00 pm – Community Town Hall at the Lopez Community Center and Zoom Webinar https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85189870659

Sponsored by the Lopez Island Hospital District and Catherine Washburn Medical Association

What are the next steps to finalize the agreement?

By the end of February, LIHD will convene a special meeting, a town hall, and a regular board meeting to review, discuss, and potentially approve moving forward with securing a contract with Sea Mar.

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