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Washington State Hospital Association
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Seattle, WA 98104
Recent member news from the Jan. 20, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>
Save the date for the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting May 1-4 in Washington, D.C. The meeting will provide an opportunity to gain perspectives that will help us continue to build a better health care system for the future. AHA Board Member and Swedish Health Services CMO Dr. John Vassall II will be among the conference’s presenters.... Read More >>
I was a hospital administrator for 30 years, all without ever providing medical care. That’s the norm — although physicians founded hospitals in earlier centuries, their focus constricted to patient care as the organizations grew in size and complexity. Professional administrators filled the gap to manage non-clinical areas, such as facilities, records, billing, finances and more. While an understandable shift, that evolution has resulted in lack of physicians who help run hospitals. While some doctors had the credentials to be both credible physicians and administrators, they were often an uncomfortable hybrid, not embraced by either “camp.” This is changing, it must change, and WSHA is helping to push the change.... Read More >>
Executives from Washington Hospital Services’ Industry Partner Merritt Hawkins were recently cited in a new article appearing in The Journal of Medical Practice Management that explored challenges related to physician engagement and ways in which hospitals can succeed in this crucial area. ... Read More >>
We are interested in informing hospitals about the Washington State Health Care Authority’s adjustments to February 1 payment rates. Working with WSHA, the Health Care Authority (HCA) has agreed to increase inpatient rates for the next quarter by about 18 percent, in order to restore errors it made in cutting rates during the last two quarters.... Read More >>
On Friday, the House Health Care & Wellness Committee will hold a public hearing for House Bill 2450, which would give critical access hospitals taking part in a pilot program the ability to return to critical access status if they so choose when the pilot is complete.... Read More >>
On Tuesday, the Senate Health Care Committee will hold a public hearing for Senate Bill 6228. The bill seeks to have Washington State participate in a multi-state compact that would streamline physician licensure and make it easier for doctors to practice in multiple states. ... Read More >>
Senate Bill 5453 proposes to allow ambulatory surgical facilities to add “recovery care centers” that would care for post-surgical patients for an extended 48 hours after surgery, in addition to the currently permitted time of 23 hours and 59 minutes. This is a slightly modified version from last year’s bill, also opposed by WSHA.... Read More >>
The Senate Government Operations & Security Committee held a public hearing on Monday regarding three bills that impose unnecessary restrictions on public hospital districts. WSHA and AWPHD strongly oppose these bills, which place unnecessary restrictions on public hospital districts.... Read More >>
A summary of the bills WSHA will testify on from Jan. 19-22.... Read More >>