PORT ANGELES – Olympic Medical Center scored a major victory Tuesday when a federal judge ruled in favor of the hospital’s challenge to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cuts that began this year and would have cost tens of millions of dollars over the next decade.

The judge ruled that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) exceeded their authority when they cut OMC’s reimbursements by 30% in January, with another 30% cut that was due to kick in on January 1.

While CEO Eric Lewis is understandably pleased, he says this isn’t a done deal.

“Well, the court ruling in our favor is a big step forward, but it’s not a done deal. We still have to figure out remedies. We do have to figure out exactly how the court ruling is going to be implemented and we have to see if the federal government appeals the decision. But I’m very excited and appreciate the court’s decision.”

Lewis says that by October 1 all parties are required to submit a joint status report to determine how they move forward. Lewis is hopeful they’ll be able to return to the same reimbursement rate they had before this year’s 30% cut.