News

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 >>

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 percent of U.S. patients report having had allergic reactions to a penicillin-class antibiotic. However, less than 1 percent of the population experience true IgE-mediated reactions, and 80 percent those who do lose their sensitivity after 10 years. The alternatives to penicillins are often broad-spectrum antibiotics, and their use among patients not truly allergic to penicillins is associated with higher health care costs, higher risk of antibiotic resistance and suboptimal antibiotic therapy.... Read More >>

Welcome WSHA’s newest affiliate member Miller, Nash, Graham & Dunn LLP! Miller Nash Graham & Dunn’s Health Law Practice is uniquely positioned to guide clients through the ever changing policy and regulatory environment of health care reform. Their attorneys are well-versed in the day-to-day issues that affect health care providers.... Read More >>

Membership updates from the June 8, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the June 8, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Industry Partner Merritt Hawkins just published its 2017 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives, and it’s no surprise family physicians are in high demand, driving salaries higher. The average starting salary for family physicians is $231,000, which is up from $198,000 in 2015. The report also shows an increase in the use of value-based physician incentives, with bonuses based on patient satisfaction and outcome metrics.... Read More >>

Keeping sharps disposal programs compliant can be a tall order. WHS Industry Partner Stericycle is providing an option for staff to properly dispose of sharps and pharmaceutical waste without leaving the patient room. The Rx Waste Comingle Service allows for the disposal of both sharps and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste in one container.... 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 >>