WSHA recently sent the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) a comment letter and recommendations in response to the OIC’s request for comments related to health plan prior authorizations. The OIC is considering rulemaking to streamline the prior authorization process and make it easier for consumers and providers to get prior authorizations.... Read More >>

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made a change, effective July 1, 2016 requiring Medicare Part B providers to bill on a separate expense line with a “JW’ modifier, any unused portion of a single use vial or package. Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner, Para HealthCare, has provides a helpful article detailing the new requirements.... Read More >>

WSHA recently produced and sent analyses of several recent proposed Medicare rules issued by CMS along with hospital-specific impact reports to the Chief Financial Officer and/or other designated finance persons for each facility. This information is to help hospital finance leader understand the impacts of the various rules on your hospitals.... Read More >>

In response to provider and enrollee concerns, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announced it is considering rule-making to provide more specific requirements related to health plan prior authorizations. The rules would provide make the prior authorization process more predictable and transparent, and they would minimize the burden of the process on consumers.... Read More >>

WSHA, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and other hospitals groups are concerned about the effect rising drug costs are having on hospital budgets and hospital costs, particularly if drugs are bundled as part of a hospital prospective payment methodology.... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner HealthVUE has written a piece on the positive impact remote patient monitoring (RPM) can have on reducing hospital readmissions.... Read More >>

On April 28 the Health Care Authority hosted a webinar on its Medicaid program on potentially preventable readmissions. Under this program, effective January 1, 2016, the state applies a prospective... Read More >>

WSHA is working with the Health Care Authority (HCA) to address an issue causing a possible under-reporting of Medicaid days used on hospital Medicare cost reports. An under-reporting of days can result in loss of Medicare disproportional share hospital (DSH) payments.... Read More >>

The Hospital Safety Net Assessment Program for SFY 2017, which begins July 1, 2016, is expected to be stable and relatively unchanged compared to 2016. WSHA is working closely with Health Care Authority staff to ensure the program continues to work as designed to provide budget savings to the state and funding for Medicaid hospital services.... Read More >>

Two weeks ago, WSHA staff held a webinar and sent information to hospital CFOs asking each hospital in Washington to adopt a new, standardized and simplified financial assistance application and communication process. This standardized application was developed at the request of the WSHA Board by a workgroup of WSHA member hospital patient account managers. ... Read More >>