The Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced this week that its next open enrollment period would be 10 weeks, spanning from Nov. 1, 2017 to Jan. 15, 2018. The announcement follows the previous market stabilization rules that shortened the open enrollment period to six weeks, but left it up to the discretion of state exchanges on whether to extend the enrollment window.... Read More >>
Gov. Inslee this week signed into law HB 1427, which enacts several recommendations made by the King County Heroin and Opioid Task Force to help cities and counties across the state confront the opioid epidemic by lowering barriers and reducing wait lists for treatment. The bill will give health care providers more information about their prescribing practices to boost the use of best practices.... Read More >>
When a patient demonstrates signs of imminent clinical deterioration, a team of providers — a Rapid Response Team (RRT) — is summoned to the bedside to immediately assess and treat the patient with the goal of rapid clinical assessment and prevention of harm. WSHA will conduct a survey to learn more about how members have initiated these programs.... Read More >>
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Monday issued updated ransomware and cyber threat guidance for health care organizations. Ransomware attacks — a type of cyberattack in which the actors demand the payment of ransom to regain access to a victim’s data — were reported Friday by companies and organizations in more than 150 countries, including hospitals and other clinical services in England’s National Health Service.... Read More >>
Hospitals and others can apply through July 17 for grants of up to $500,000 each for equipment and technical assistance to provide telemedicine services in rural areas, the Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday.... Read More >>
Recent member news from the May 17, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>
All organizations needs more providers, but quantifying this need in a way that satisfies regulatory bodies as well as existing medical staff can be challenging. Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner Merritt Hawkins has released the white paper “Demonstrating Community Need for Physicians” to help hospital organizations understand what they need to know about this important piece of a successful recruiting program.... Read More >>
This week not only marks National Hospital Week, but it also marks National Nurses Week! We use this time each year as an opportunity to say thank you to all the dedicated nurses across our state, because they are central to our health care system. They work tremendously hard to care for us and our families, and help keep us healthy.... Read More >>
Ten years ago, EvergreenHealth built the eight-story Silver Tower on its Kirkland campus, opening the building with five completed floors and three shells ready to be used at a later date, in anticipation of increasing growth and community need. Now, the health system has taken advantage of much of the space it set aside, opening a Cardiovascular & Neurosurgical Care Unit in April.... Read More >>
WSHA will host a webcast from 12-1 p.m. May 23 detailing the latest legislative action taking place at the federal and state level, as the American Health Care Act is on its way to the Senate in Washington, D.C., and the cycle of special sessions has begun in Olympia. ... Read More >>
