When you think of killing viruses and bacteria on surfaces, you may think of using a spray and a paper towel to physically scrub away the bad particles. At Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, a new air handler is taking cleaning to a new level, using ultraviolet light to kill viruses and bacteria.... Read More >>
Newport Hospitals & Health Services and Kittitas Valley Healthcare received the Washington State Hospital Association’s 2017 Rural Quality ~ Everyday Extraordinary Award. Newport Hospitals & Health Services received the award for its success in its “Surgical Site Infection Prevention Project,” and Kittitas Valley Healthcare received the award for its success in its “KVH Sepsis Taskforce.”... Read More >>
The Washington State Hospital Association is disappointed with the Senate Republican’s attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – called the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. The bill contains modified versions of many of the provisions from the House’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) and will result in dramatically fewer Washingtonians having access to health care. Our initial reaction is that this bill is worse for our state’s Medicaid program and hospitals and health systems than the House’s version of the bill. ... Read More >>
The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) strongly criticized the Senate’s health care reform bill, released today.... Read More >>
A new development has brought an end to Adventist Health’s efforts to transfer control of Walla Walla General Hospital’s services to Providence Health & Services—an initiative they jointly announced on April 3 and that both organizations had hoped to achieve by midsummer. Adventist Health received word that unexpected regulatory challenges have arisen which could linger for an undetermined duration of time and could ultimately prohibit the anticipated transfer of membership.... Read More >>
WSHA is committed to improving patient safety and reducing harm from all causes. Part of improving patient safety is ensuring that diagnostic imaging exams produce a clinically viable image to guide care without causing harm. The American College of Radiology produces two free sample reports through the Dose Index Registry: one for children and one for adults. These reports have been acknowledged as appropriate for comparison of target dose ranges by exam and age in the absence of established national benchmarks.... Read More >>
Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced June 19 that Premera will offer health plans in Grays Harbor County. Klickitat County remains without any individual insurance options. Commissioner Kreidler and his staff are engaged in negotiations to see if a willing insurer can be found. Five counties (Ferry, Grays Harbor, Pend Oreille, Skagit and Skamania) will have only one insurer in 2018. Clallam and Wahkiakum counties will have two insurers, but through the same parent company.... Read More >>
Last week the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) gave notice that Grays Harbor and Klickitat counties would have no individual health care insurance options in 2018.... Read More >>
In the wake of the recent insurance carrier filings with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, there is substantial discussion about how to stabilize the individual health insurance market in Washington State.... Read More >>
The Health Care Authority recently sent guidance regarding the potential effect of a partial state government shutdown if a 2017-19 state budget is not enacted by July 1, 2017, particularly its effect on the Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) program and the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program.... Read More >>
