News

The Health Care Authority recently provided us with details on the proposed Governor’s budget cuts to hospital based clinics.... Read More >>

Since President Trump’s inauguration Friday, the stage has been set for the future of health care: an executive order that directs congress to take every action it can to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This order mostly serves a rhetorical purpose, but it’s a precursor to future congressional and executive branch action.... Read More >>

Washington State has embarked on an ambitious plan, called Healthier Washington, to redesign the health care system in our state so that people are healthier and the cost of health care is more under control. Taking part in this plan requires making some changes to the way care is given and the way providers are reimbursed for treating Medicaid patients. Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma is testing a demonstration of a new integrated care model that could reach better health outcomes at a lower cost. ... Read More >>

The Senate Health Care Committee and House Health Care & Wellness Committee had hearings this week on legislation to create an interstate physician licensure compact (HB 1337 and SB 5221). The compact would allow physicians to more efficiently become licensed to practice in multiple states. It would also allow Washington State to maintain local control and accountability of physicians’ licensure and disciplinary actions.... Read More >>

Like the rest of the U.S., Washington State is in the midst of an opioid crisis, and a recent report from the Washington Health Alliance highlights wide variation in how opioids are prescribed across the state. To help support providers and health systems with appropriate opioid prescribing, the Washington Health Alliance and the Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative have developed easy-to-use fact sheets based on national CDC guidelines.... Read More >>

The first session of the LEAD academy is just seven weeks away and spots are filling up fast! The first session covers how to successfully make the transition from being a peer to being a manager and leader. Participants will learn their own leadership preferences and how to best work with people with different preferences. Registration is limited to 30 participants.... Read More >>

February 1 is the first implementation date for providers to share electronic health record (EHR) Medicaid patient data via the Health Care Authority Link4Health Clinical Data Repository (CDR). When fully implemented, the Link4Health CDR will allow providers to access Medicaid patient records from other providers and facilities, and provide more robust information on a patient’s health history and treatment needs.... Read More >>

In 2016, the Department of Health and the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission began piloting an integrated hospital and pharmacy inspection process. The goal is to increase the coordination between these two related inspection processes and include pharmacy topics in the entrance and exit conferences the department uses during hospital inspections.... Read More >>

Membership update from the January 25, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the January 25, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>