The Washington State Health Care Authority has begun the process of updating its Medicaid payment methodology for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC). HCA contracted with a consultant, Health Management Associates, to provide technical assistance as it meets with stakeholders to develop a successor to the current payment methodology. The stakeholder group representing Rural Health Clinics includes:
- Kelly Beedle, Family Care Network
- Dawn Bross, Samaritan Healthcare
- Andrew Busz, Washington State Hospital Association
- Will Callicoat, Summit Pacific Medical Center
- Krystal Guzman, Island Hospital
- Cindy Robertson, NorthShore Medical Group
WSHA and the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington will coordinate communications to our members as the work progresses. The new methodology is intended to be less administratively cumbersome than the current one, and better able to support improvements to quality and innovation. An initial meeting between the consultant, the state and the stakeholders took place January 15, and the state’s consultant presented a conceptual model for discussion. The next meeting will be held March 11.
The associations will provide additional information once there is a specific proposal. More information will be available at the 2016 Northwest Rural Health Conference on March 15-17 at the Spokane Convention Center. The first day of the conference will include a presentation by the state’s consultant on the status of the payment development process. Click here for more information and to register. (Andrew Busz)
