News

Patient safety measures that reward hospitals for reducing preventable infections, pressure ulcers and adverse drug events have led to a 17 percent decline in patient harm in the last four years, according to a new study from the Department of Health and Human Services. This means 87,000 fewer patients died in hospitals and nearly $20 billion in health care costs have been saved, nationally.... Read More >>

The Fisher House Foundation opened a new ‘comfort home’ Nov. 17 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) for families of Madigan Army Medical Center patients. The home is the second the foundation has donated to the medical center, and it will house 11 military families while their loved ones are hospitalized. The first house has operated at near maximum capacity for several years.... Read More >>

Group Health doctors recently reported that offering an in-home colon cancer screening kit makes patients more likely to get screened for the disease by offering an alternative to unpleasant colonoscopies. The kits allow patients to check their own stools for blood, alerting them to whether they need to visit their physician for further testing or treatment.... Read More >>

The state Health Care Authority (HCA) released a new Frequently Asked Questions document and announced monthly conference calls to answer questions and provide general updates on the Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs).... Read More >>

On November 20, WSHA provided hospitals with an analysis of the Calendar Year 2016 Medicare outpatient prospective payment system final rule. WSHA also provided facility-specific impact reports to hospital Chief Financial Officers. The new payment rates include a 2.1 percent market basket increase that is offset by an ACA-mandated reduction of 0.7 percent and an additional adjustment reduction of 2 percent due to lab services that should have been bundled being paid separately in error. ... Read More >>

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler plans to submit proposed legislation in the upcoming 2016 session to limit balance billing of patients for out-of-network emergency services when a patient receives care at a facility contracted as in-network with their health plan.... Read More >>

The final rule for payment of early obstetrical deliveries adopted by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) includes protections requested by WSHA for patients and providers. The rule is intended to deny Medicaid payment for early elective deliveries. The final rule allows payment for deliveries prior to 39 weeks if the early delivery is medically necessary.... Read More >>

On November 1, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) reduced inpatient and outpatient hospital payments to prospective payment hospitals by 8 percent in order to apply budget neutrality adjustments due to the recent rebasing of the payment systems. In response to this significant change in Medicaid rates, WSHA requested HCA and its consultant, Navigant, review the calculations and provide WSHA with data sets to enable an independent analysis.... Read More >>

The March of Dimes, nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health, held its 12th annual Washington Nurse of the Year Awards November 20, recognizing the state’s top nurses in 19 categories for their work setting the standards of outstanding patient care.... Read More >>

Recognizing the continuing need for involuntary inpatient mental health services, the state Legislature funded $32 million in the 2015-2017 budget for capital grants to assist with construction or renovation for inpatient and crisis mental health services.... Read More >>