News

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is planning significant changes to Apple Health enrollment. Under a new policy effective April 1, 2016, enrollees will be retroactively assigned to a managed care plan as of the beginning of the month the patient is enrolled, rather than at the beginning of the month following enrollment. HCA will be hosting a webinar on March 17, from 2:00- 3:00 p.m. to provide information regarding the changes and answer questions.... Read More >>

Friday was the cutoff for most bills to be considered in the opposite house, and we are now heading into the final stretch of this year’s short legislative session. We are happy to report that many of the significant bills WSHA supports made it through both the House and Senate, and are now headed to the governor for his action. Several other bills WSHA supports are awaiting concurrence between the House and Senate.... Read More >>

PeaceHealth United General Medical Center is growing its oncology services, offering a broader array of specialty treatment closer to home for those in the Sedro-Woolley community. The medical center’s North Puget Cancer Center (NPCC) offers stereotactic therapy — precise targeting of fewer high dose treatments that traditional therapy — for lung, liver and adrenal tumors, as well as respiratory gated therapy, which enables physicians to treat moving targets and avoid interfering with the heart when treating patients suffering from left-sided breast cancer.... Read More >>

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange board unanimously voted last week to permanently appoint Pam MacEwan as the new chief executive officer, effective immediately. She has served as interim CEO since... Read More >>

As the warmth of spring returns and the snow begins to melt away, it’s time for us to get ready for the WSHA & AWPHD 40th Annual Rural Hospital Leadership Conference in Chelan June 26-29!... Read More >>

You’ve likely seen the news reports about the mosquito-borne Zika virus the last few weeks, following the virus as it made its first appearance in the U.S. and eventually in Washington State, coming stateside after being contracted abroad. As of Feb. 1, the World Health Organization declared Zika a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, this week health officials confirmed a second case of Zika in Spokane County. The virus can be transmitted sexually from men and through blood transfusions.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the March 3, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

The Leaders in Health Care Awards gala, sponsored by Seattle Business Magazine, took place Feb. 25, recognizing leaders in our state that have been outstanding in delivering care.... Read More >>

A new report from the AHA’s Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence initiative describes strategies, action steps and examples for hospitals, health systems and community stakeholders working to develop a well-coordinated, accessible, affordable and accountable system for delivering behavioral health care.... Read More >>

AWPHD and Network Service Solutions (NNS), an Industry Partner of Washington Hospital Services, are hosting a webinar about the benefits of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) program for health care organizations. The USAC program provides qualifying health care providers with a 60 to 90 percent discount on IT expenditures.... Read More >>