News

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange has announced that nearly 174,000 Washington State residents have signed up for or renewed their health coverage as of Jan. 2. The deadline to select a Qualified Health Plan is Jan. 31 for coverage beginning March 1.... Read More >>

I was tickled to see the topic of hospital affiliations become a hot topic on the final season of Downton Abbey, despite the media poo-pooing (“Is the saga of the Downton Cottage Hospital the dullest plotline in TV history?” and “Downton Abbey's dreary hospital storyline a symptom of show's slow and painful death” and from the Guardian: “… Cousin Violet and Cousin Isobel are at war over something very tedious about a hospital”).... Read More >>

The affiliation between Virginia Mason and the Yakima-based Memorial Family of Services, which includes Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, became official on Jan. 1 as expected. The affiliation — a non-cash transaction — became official following regulatory review, making Memorial Family of Services and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital part of Virginia Mason. The organizations signed legal documentation for the affiliation in November.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the Jan. 7, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

We are getting ready for the 2016 legislative session, and are excited to invite you to our legislative session kickoff webcast. Cassie Sauer, Claudia Sanders and Mary Kay Clunies-Ross will talk about WSHA’s top priorities for the session, as well as how recent leadership changes might affect health care legislation this year.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the Dec. 31, 2015 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner Cordant Health Solutions has some tips for providers to keep compliant with state and federal regulations for pain management. ... Read More >>

U.S. spending on health care grew 5.3% in 2014 – largely due to coverage expansion associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and rapidly rising prescription drug prices – following five straight years of historically low growth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported Dec. 2 in an article published online in Health Affairs. ... Read More >>

Swedish First Hill has removed fruit juice from its routine pediatric menu, and it believes it may be the first in the state — and even the country — to do so. The change is aimed to make hospital stays healthier for their youngest patients, as fruit juice contains high levels of fructose that can be harmful. In the most extreme cases, excessive fructose intake can build up excessive fat in the liver, much like alcohol abuse. ... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority (HCA) has extended its deadline to Feb. 1 for providers to apply to offer total joint replacements using bundled payments for its coverage for state employees.... Read More >>