The Washington hospital safety net assessment program includes a Medicaid quality incentive.  Under the incentive provision, prospective payment hospitals that meet certain quality measures receive a one percent increase to their Medicaid inpatient payment rate.... Read More >>

With recent changes in the law, the hospital safety net assessment program has new provisions for the quality incentive program.  Under these provisions, hospitals must be in compliance with existing Department of Health financial reporting requirements to qualify for the quality incentive payment.... Read More >>

WSHA recently released a bulletin explaining details of counties’ decisions to pursue “mid-adopter” status for financial integration of Medicaid benefits for behavioral health.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority has begun the application process for the SFY 2018 Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program for hospitals other than those participating in the Certified Public Expenditures program.... Read More >>

Gary McLaughlin, Chief Financial Officer at Overlake Medical Center, will retire at the end of June. Gary served as the CFO at Overlake since 2003.... Read More >>

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week said he hopes the Senate can vote late next week on its version of a bill to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. McConnell is expected to release a “working draft” on Thursday. The Congressional Budget Office is hoping to report by early next week on how the bill would affect insurance coverage levels and the federal budget.... Read More >>

WSHA and AWPHD’s 41st Annual Rural Hospital Leadership Conference begins Sunday at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan! We look forward to seeing you Sunday, and we have a few quick reminders for you.... Read More >>

This year, at the Rural Hospital Leadership Conference, we are offering programs that will help our rural leaders be more effective and successful in their roles, sustaining rural health care across the state, and ensuring that our communities will continue to have access to the care that will keep them healthy. We’ll cover emerging topics in health care, update you on the latest developments in our state’s health care landscape, and maybe even surprise you with some new ideas or ways of thinking that you may not have considered before.... Read More >>

Helping guide young men and women into the health care field is an investment that pays off in the form of a healthy community. Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata will help guide young adults this summer through a new internship program through Eastern Washington University known as Project H.O.P.E. (which stands for Health Occupations Preparatory Experience). Through the program, high school students who are first-generation college-bound, from a rural community or from populations that are underserved in health care are placed in a four-week paid internship with their local health care facility.... Read More >>

By November 16, the Health Care Authority (HCA) is requiring all Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) to submit a project plan that will guide their Medicaid demonstration work. The HCA recently released the draft Project Plan Template, supplemental workbook and recently updated draft Project Toolkit. These materials now contain important timelines and implementation guidance for the ACHs and providers. One major change for all projects is that 2018 is a planning year with implementation expected by late 2019. WSHA will submit comments on the materials by the June 30 deadline.... Read More >>