From Fiscal Watch: Inpatient Medicaid psychiatric payment rate increases for new units and certain hospitals

The Health Care Authority recently notified many hospitals of payment rate increases for inpatient psychiatric services authorized by the legislature in the 2017 legislative session budget. WSHA advocated with the legislature for the additional appropriation and with HCA to implement the increases, which are effective retroactive to October 1, 2017. The rate increases apply to certain hospitals that provided more than 200 psychiatric inpatient days during the fiscal year. Read more from Fiscal Watch. (Chelene Whiteaker)