The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about new deadlines for important changes related to the prescribing of opioids and controlled substances: The Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Electronic Health Records (EHR) integration mandate has been extended and is now effective September 30, 2021 (originally January 1, 2021).... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems of significant changes to the regulations implementing section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ... Read More >>

This bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems about recent legislation enacted in the 2020 legislative session requiring telemedicine payment parity and changes to the coverage of use of store-and-forward technology in Senate Bill 5385, and new telemedicine training requirements in Senate Bill 6061. This bulletin also includes useful information and resources regarding recent temporary changes to telemedicine billing practices in Medicaid, Medicare and commercial health plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Read More >>

This bulletin contains information for providers about a new state law that prohibits health care providers from performing or from authorizing students to perform pelvic exams on patients who are under anesthesia or unconscious without the patient’s informed consent. ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert hospitals and health care systems about changes in law related to ESHB 1608, effective June 11, 2020.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform members of changes contained in Second Substitute Senate Bill 5601 (2SSB 5601). The bill: • Defines health care benefit managers and requires them to register and be regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to review further changes to the law governing the involuntary treatment of minors (RCW 71.34) under the omnibus bill 2E2SSB 5720. It also amends the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA, RCW 71.05). ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to review the use of real-time video technology for interviewing adult patients to determine whether to detain them under the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA). Two new laws effective June 11, 2020, ESHB 2099 and 2E2SSB 5720, permit video technology to be used by Designated Crisis Responders (DCRs) to interview a person held under the ITA, so long as a health care professional is present with the patient to facilitate the interview. ... Read More >>

This bulletin’s purpose is to notify hospitals about the changes contained in Substitute House Bill 2378 that impact physician assistants, osteopathic physician assistants, and supervising physicians. The new laws are intended to remove administrative burdens and allow for more efficient use of physician assistants. ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an overview of key changes to Washington’s civil commitment statues for adults and minors under 2E2SSB 5720. The omnibus bill amends RCW 71.05, the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) and RCW 71.34, Behavioral Health Services for Minors. Key changes include expanding the initial detention period from 3 days to 5 days, expanding patients’ rights, modifying ITA processes, and making important definitional changes. Except for the 5-day detention change and the definitions changes expanding detention criteria, these changes are effective June 11, 2020.... Read More >>