News

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) recently released a stakeholder draft of rules pertaining to prior authorizations, the first step in the rule making process. WSHA, WSMA, and many of our members have been asking the OIC to more carefully regulate this process in order to reduce administrative overhead for providers.... Read More >>

As part of its inpatient final rule released yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying the implementation of the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notification requirements originally scheduled to go into effect August 6, 2016... Read More >>

The State’s Health Care Oversight Joint Select Committee met last Wednesday to hear an update on a study looking at ways to deliver a zero increase rate for Medicaid managed care plans in the upcoming fiscal year. Staff from the Health Care Authority recommended three areas of focus based on the recommendations from its workgroup, composed of state staff and the managed care plans.... Read More >>

This week, Washington State held its primary for executive, congressional, and legislative races. Our Washington Hospital Political Action Committee made major contributions to 83 candidates for elected office across the state. We are excited that the vast majority of candidates we supported did well in the primary and will be advancing to the general election in November.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the Aug. 4, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) recently released a stakeholder draft of rules pertaining to prior authorizations. The current draft increases accountability for benefit managers and third party administrators and clarifies how health plans must notify providers of new services requiring prior authorization. ... Read More >>

WSHA hosted two webcasts on July 26 detailing how the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which was passed by Congress in 2015, fundamentally changes how physicians are paid. These changes will have significant implications on your organizations and physicians.... Read More >>

Michael Geller, Manager of Regional Sustainability at Providence Health & Services in Portland, has shared his insight into how to meet safety and compliance objectives amid a complex regulatory environment, financial pressures and sustainability expectations.... Read More >>

As concern about the Zika virus have continued to grow, both the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have released new guidance, information, and tools this week to assist healthcare providers in our state.... Read More >>

At the latest hearing in the Pierce County case In Re Detention of A.W., Commissioner Craig Adams denied the state's motion for reconsideration and appointed Jeff Sconyers to the position of Special Master. The Special Master is being appointed to ensure that the court's directives are being followed and that all the steps required by the ruling are being followed.... Read More >>