All nine Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) have passed phase 2 certification, a critical achievement in the Medicaid Transformation Demonstration. Their success signals another step toward the 2021 goal of whole person health care and better management of state resources.... Read More >>
Four Republican Senators have introduced a new attempt to repeal and replace large portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), racing to beat a September 30 deadline to pass any such reform under reconciliation rules with a bare majority of 50 votes (plus Vice President Pence). Sens. Graham (SC), Cassidy (LA), Heller (NV) and Johnson (WI) have proposed a bill that would replace federal funds for Medicaid expansion and subsidies for individual market insurance sold in the marketplaces with a lump sum block grant for states to use for unspecified health care purposes.... Read More >>
WSHA was well-represented at this week’s American Hospital Association (AHA) Regional Policy Board (RPB) meeting in Washington, D.C. RPBs play a key role in AHA’s policy formation process. This week’s sessions focused on considering options for Medicaid reform and identifying hospital priorities for an infrastructure package.... Read More >>
WSHA and member hospitals are participating a stakeholder group, along with the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to discuss HCA’s plan to revise its payment policy for potentially preventable hospital readmissions.... Read More >>
WSHA submitted a comment letter strongly opposing provisions in CMS’s proposed outpatient rule that would reduce by 25 percent payments for outpatient drugs provided by 340B eligible hospitals.... Read More >>
Hospitals are required to care for everyone who comes through the door with the most intense care that is needed and available, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Hospitals are also required to help low-income patients cover their medical bills through charity care. This helps ensure that everyone is able to get the right care, at the right place, at the right time.... Read More >>
Thank you to all the leadership teams and individuals who have supported the Washington Hospital Political Action Committee (WHPAC)! As our way of saying thank you, we would like to invite donors of more than $350 to dinner at the Seattle Aquarium on Wednesday, October 11, the evening before our Annual Member Meeting.... Read More >>
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) in August announced a new clinical policy on opioid prescribing for Apple Health (Medicaid). This new policy takes effect October 1 and is intended to support providers in achieving appropriate opioid prescribing patterns. HCA will host two one-hour webinars for prescribers and pharmacists on Monday, September 11 from noon to 1 p.m. and Tuesday, September 19 from 7-8 a.m. We strongly encourage providers to participate.... Read More >>
The Washington State Pharmacy Commission (PQAC) is conducting a comprehensive rewrite of its regulatory rules (more than 300 pages) in an effort to streamline and modernize Washington’s pharmacy rules. This work will begin at PQAC’s initial stakeholder meetings September 13-15. WSHA has advocated for the past three years that PQAC modernize its rules. Many of PQAC’s rules are outdated and no longer represent best practice or current realities.... Read More >>
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. With more than 52,000 overdoses in the U.S. in 2015, this day represents a time for us to remember those who have prematurely lost their lives, and to commit to taking action to address the opioid crisis. Given the impact of this crisis on our community, it is likely that we have all been touched by this issue or know of someone who prematurely lost a loved one to an overdose.... Read More >>
