News

The AHA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 7 released a one-page resource to help hospital patients who may be prescribed opioids before discharge discuss the risks and benefits of these medications with their health care provider.... Read More >>

A Senate Appropriations Subcommittee this week set funding levels for the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The HHS funding bill has often been the venue for partisan fights. This week’s action sets the stage for the first Senate floor vote on the HHS spending bill in years. ... Read More >>

Recent member news from the June 9, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Many hospitals are struggling with patients who have completed their acute hospital stay, but for whom post-hospital placement cannot be found. Based on member concerns, a new goal has been added to the WSHA strategic plan: Exploring policy options and process changes to speed up discharge for patients waiting for placement in long-term care facilities.... Read More >>

Tom Parker, the chief operating officer of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, has been appointed to the position of permanent chief executive officer. The hospital board unanimously approved the appointment on June 2. Tom has served as interim CEO since March, and he will continue to serve as COO.... Read More >>

The House of Representatives this week approved by voice vote legislation that would extend the time hospitals have to qualify to be grandfathered into the existing payment system for services provided in off-campus, provider-based clinics. Washington Rep. Jim McDermott, who serves as the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, was the bill’s Democratic sponsor. ... Read More >>

To help reduce hospital readmissions for patients at high risk of being readmitted, PMH Medical Center in Prosser launched a program that sends its ambulance service to patients’ homes to follow-up and address any issues patients have dealt with, spanning anything from surgery recovery to diabetes management. ... Read More >>

Click here to view webcast recording Click here to view webcast slides... 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 >>