The Bree Collaborative has approved its draft opioid prescribing metrics for dissemination for public comment. WSHA and the Washington State Medical Association’s Joint Opioid Taskforce has reviewed earlier versions of the Bree prescribing metrics and was supportive of their precision and direction. Our taskforce will re-review the metrics as they have undergone changes and provide formal comments to the collaborative. ... Read More >>

WSHA members have been asking for steps to help with an increasingly burdensome process from private payers on prior authorization.  On June 5, after an extended stakeholder process, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner adopted a rule on prior authorization that addresses carrier transparency.  ... Read More >>

Recently the Health Care Authority, the Department of Health, and other state agencies sent notices some entities contracted with the state.  The notice says state contracts will be suspended if the legislature fails to agree on budget appropriations for the upcoming biennium by midnight of June 30, 2017.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority adopted final rules on two items WSHA has been involved in... Read More >>

WSHA recently sent two hospital-specific reports to the chief financial officer at each of our member hospitals.... Read More >>

One of WSHA’s greatest strengths is its ability to convene members and different groups to collaborate and solve problems together. Just last week, we were able to use this strength again. On May 24, WSHA hosted a large meeting with representatives from the state Department of Health (DOH), the regional Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) and member hospitals from across the state to collaboratively address health challenges that impact all of Washington State.... Read More >>

Last week, we had a webcast update on the progress of the legislative session. While the budget is not done yet — and is not expected to be completed until the last minute — many of WSHA’s priority policy bills have been passed by both houses and have been signed by the governor. It’s exciting so see progress being made on so many key issues, and we are grateful for all of the WSHA members who spend time testifying in Olympia.... Read More >>

The American Hospital Association (AHA) sent a letter to the U.S. Senate May 25 to express its viewpoint that legislation re-examining the Affordable Care Act (ACA) must be guided by ensuring that health care coverage remains available to the tens of millions of Americans who benefitted from the law. The AHA re-iterated that hospitals have major policy concerns with the House-passed American Health Care Act.... Read More >>

While I was in Washington, D.C., last week, WSHA was one of a small group invited to participate in a meeting with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma. The conversation was intended to focus on the regulatory challenges facing rural providers. (Special thanks to Richard Ervin FNP-C of Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. Richard called into the meeting to ensure the voice of the providers was heard.)... Read More >>

WSHA is responding to the HCA’s request for information for the toolkit on behalf of some of our rural members. WSHA is also exploring working with the HCA and managed care organizations to develop common measures that can be used for inpatient care.... Read More >>