The Big Picture: The House’s spending plan on WSHA’s key priorities is similar to the Senate’s solid support of needed health care services. Of note: No cuts to Medicaid payments for hospital-based clinics; Hospital safety net assessment included; Mental health care funding and reforms are good; Medicaid waiver funds appropriated (this was mostly not included in the Senate budget)... Read More >>

Five organizations that represent Washington State's largest health care delivery systems, physicians and providers are stating their opposition to the American Health Care Act. The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers (WACMHC), and the Community Health Network of Washington (CHNW), along with its subsidiary non-profit managed care company, Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW), are calling on Congress to reject the House proposal that puts their patients at risk. Collectively, these groups represent 107 hospitals, 267 clinics, 10,000 physicians and other providers, 315,000 members, and more than 17 million patient visits a year statewide.... Read More >>

The state Senate Majority Coalition Caucus released its budget March 21, marking one of the milestones of this year’s legislative session. We are pleased with the Senate budget, which does not include any cuts to hospital-based clinics and funds several important health care priorities, including the Hospital Safety Net Assessment, post-discharge placement for complex patients and nursing home care in small, rural hospitals.... Read More >>

The Washington State Office of Financial Management Health Care Research Center released the brief “Health Coverage Changes Under the ACA for Non-elderly Veterans and Spouses of Veterans in Washington.”... Read More >>

The Senate Coalition Caucus released its budget today, and it is overall positive for WSHA's budget priorities.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority is updating the grouper and weights used to calculate payments for Medicaid outpatient hospital services by prospective payment hospitals.... Read More >>

Early next week the Senate Health Care Committee is expected to hear House Bill 2114, which provides protection from balance billing for patients who receive care from a non-contracted provider at a hospital that is contracted with their health plan.... Read More >>

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus released its budget today, and it is overall positive for WSHA's budget priorities. The budget does not include any cuts to hospital-based clinics and also funds several other important health care priorities.... Read More >>

The budget decreases state hospital beds, moves patients to community hospitals and invests in post-acute discharge facilities. ... Read More >>

Senate Bill 5800 will clarify that mental health providers have a duty to warn of a serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of a reasonably identifiable person or persons. They discharge the duty by communicating the threat to the person or persons whose health or safety is threatened or to law enforcement. Once the duty is discharged, limited liability protections are conferred on the provider.... Read More >>