WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2026|
Photo – North Platte Valley Medical Center – Bigfoot99 file photo
The town of Saratoga agreed to help the local hospital offer low‑cost prescription drugs through a federal program.
During Wednesday evening’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, North Platte Valley Medical Center Board of Directors Chairman Will Faust announced the hospital’s intention to participate in the federal government’s 340B Drug Pricing Program. Faust said the initiative offers deep discounts on prescription drug prices.
Faust said that under the program, hospital‑administered medications may cost the medical center up to 80 percent less, but insurers will continue to pay the standard rate, generating more revenue for the facility.
North Platte Valley Medical Center CEO Dana Gilleland added that patients will pay significantly less for their prescription drugs outside of the hospital as well.
However, to participate in the 340B program, hospital board chairman Faust said the town must sign a memorandum of understanding verifying that the medical center provides specific services that benefit the community.
Faust said the town’s only obligation is to formally state that North Platte Valley Medical Center meets the federal program’s requirements. He added that Riverside has already signed a memorandum of understanding, with Encampment expected to follow soon.
Mayor Chuck Davis said Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip must review the MOU before he can sign it. Faust said the document doesn’t need to be approved immediately, though signing it sooner would be preferable.
Next, Faust said he wants to give more frequent updates on North Platte Valley Medical Center and asked CEO Dana Gilleland to brief the Town Council on the hospital’s status. Gilleland said the facility is doing well, financially.
She said the hospital has hired two new full‑time emergency room doctors and converted four temporary healthcare workers, called travelers, into full‑time staff who now live in Saratoga. Gilleland emphasized the importance of having staff live in town.
The hospital CEO added that the four new staff members will receive EMT training to assist South Central Wyoming EMS with patient transfers.
Gilleland said North Platte Valley Medical Center has also hired Cheyenne Bradfield to run the hospital’s billing department. She acknowledged that many facilities have billing issues and said Bradfield, with her 15 years of revenue cycle experience, will ensure patients receive accurate information and get their questions answered.
Gilleland recognized that the medical center has had trouble in the past but said she’s excited for the future. She said this year has been encouraging, with people actively wanting to live in Saratoga and work at the hospital.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked if North Platte Valley Medical Center staff were having trouble finding housing in Saratoga. CEO Gilleland responded that roughly half of applicants chose not to work at the hospital because they couldn’t find a home to buy or rent.
Gilleland said her staff keeps a list of available rentals in town and asked property owners with homes to rent to notify the medical center.
Mayor Davis said the housing issue is not unique to Saratoga, adding that the entire state lacks sufficient affordable housing.
Following the presentation, the Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to have Mayor Davis sign the memorandum of understanding with the North Platte Valley Medical Center after Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip approves the document. The signed MOU will allow the hospital to participate in the federal government’s 340B Drug Pricing Program.
