Yesterday, the House Republican leaders released a proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposal outlines broad policy changes but lacks enough detail to for us to fully understand how Washington State’s patients, hospitals and health systems will be affected. However, the significant reductions in federal Medicaid funds would have a major impact on our state and erode the coverage gains achieved under the ACA.... Read More >>

Effective March 8, hospitals, including critical access hospitals, must notify Medicare patients when the patients are placed into outpatient observation status. Hospitals must provide oral and written notification through the use of the standard Medicare Outpatient Observation Notification (MOON) form. On February 22 from 12-1 p.m., WSHA will provide a members-only webinar to help hospitals with implementation.... Read More >>

This week in Olympia, WSHA testified on HB 1854, which would require the Medicaid managed care plans to assemble an adequate and appropriate network of covered SNFs, monitored and enforced by the Washington State Health Care Authority. It would also create an incentive to place patients at a SNF by creating new fees on the plan if it has not placed the patient in a reasonable amount of time.... Read More >>

An estimated 28.2 million U.S. residents (8.8%) lacked health insurance when surveyed during the first nine months of 2016, according to a report released February 14 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The uninsured rate for adults under age 65 was 9.3% in Medicaid expansion states (like Washington State) and 17.5% in non-expansion states. ... Read More >>

Under current law, national health expenditures are projected to grow an average 5.6% annually during 2016-2025, outpacing average projected growth in gross domestic product by 1.2 percentage points, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of the Actuary reported February 15. As a result, the health share of the economy is projected to grow from 17.8% in 2015 to 19.9% by 2025.... Read More >>

Effective March 8, hospitals, including critical access hospitals, must notify Medicare patients when the patients are placed into outpatient observation status.... Read More >>

WSHA staff is currently engaged in many bills and issues this legislative session that will affect hospitals financial status.... Read More >>

WSHA member hospitals have come together to standardize and simplify charity care forms and communications. ... Read More >>

B 1854 would require the Medicaid managed care plans to assemble an adequate and appropriate network of covered SNFs. It would require the Washington State Health Care Authority to monitor and enforce timely and appropriate placement of patients in SNFs. It would also create an incentive to place patients at a SNF by creating new fees on the plan if it has not placed the patient in a reasonable amount of time.... Read More >>

HB 1640 adds the option of allowing a notary to validate advance directives, and it allows witnesses to verify a patient's identity by looking at personal identification, such as a driver's license or passport. This gives patients more options to execute advance directives while maintaining important protections against fraud and abuse, helping to ensure patient care and wishes are aligned.... Read More >>