Good Samaritan Board of Governors Approves 2026 Hospital Budget with Significant Caregiver Investments and No Rate Increase for Patients

During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Good Samaritan Board of Governors approved the hospital’s 2026 operating budget, which includes major investments in caregivers, patient care and technology, while maintaining a strong focus on affordability for the community.

A key component of the approved budget is a 3% wage increase for all eligible caregivers, representing an approximate $3 million investment in the workforce. The increase will take effect April 5, 2026.

“This investment is about recognizing the people who show up every day for our patients and our community,” said Adam Thacker, President of Good Samaritan. “By investing in wages and performance incentives, we’re reinforcing the importance of excellence, teamwork and accountability across the organization.”

In addition to the wage increase, the 2026 budget includes a 2% performance-based incentive for high-performing caregivers. The incentive will be tied to defined organizational and departmental metrics focused on quality, patient experience and operational excellence. This investment represents an additional $400,000 and will be awarded later in 2026.

On the performance incentive, Thacker added, “We want to reward caregivers who are helping move the organization forward by delivering high-quality care, improving the patient experience and finding better ways to serve our community.”

Tara Ellermann, Chief Talent Officer, said the investments reflect the hospital’s ongoing focus on building and sustaining a strong workforce.

“We’re intentional about regularly reviewing compensation to ensure we remain competitive with similar hospitals,” Ellermann said. “Attracting and retaining talented caregivers is critical, and these investments help us continue to be an employer of choice while supporting the level of care our patients expect.”

Chief Financial Officer Matt Schuckman said the hospital is budgeting for a 1% net margin in 2026, anticipated through continued outpatient growth and increased revenue.

“For the third year in a row, Good Samaritan will not increase patient charges to help keep health care costs more manageable for our community,” Schuckman said. “Because we are not raising rates in a time of continued inflation, we must maintain a strong focus on controlling costs and improving operational efficiency. We are committed to doing our due diligence to identify savings in ways that do not impact patient care. In fact, every efficiency we pursue is focused on strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality care and improve the patient experience.”

The approved budget also includes $10.1 million in capital investments, with a primary focus on upgrading technology to support high-quality patient care. This includes a patient monitoring system upgrade for inpatient units, interventional radiology expansion, information systems upgrades, mammography upgrades and other technology and building maintenance projects throughout the year.

Thacker, who will step into the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on January 7, 2026, said he is looking forward to the year ahead. “I’m excited to continue building on our promise of delivering high-quality, compassionate care to our community,” Thacker said. “This budget positions us well to support our caregivers and serve our patients.”