The governor's budget plan, which lays out state funding of Medicaid services, proposes to cut payments to hospital-based clinics by an estimated $150 million over two years when federal matching funds are included. This cut threatens an important source of services that are not readily available to Medicaid patients elsewhere, potentially leaving these vulnerable populations without meaningful access to community-based primary and specialty care.... Read More >>

It used to be that Navy-issued eyeglasses had a special acronym among servicemembers: BCGs, or birth control glasses. The clunky (but durable!) frames were not always easy to wear. But with the addition of a new selection of approved frames at Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Optometry Clinic, the men and women of our Navy are able to find a style that suits them. Also, with the ability to fit, fabricate and finalize most new pairs on the same day as the appointment, sailors are able to leave the clinic with their new glasses that day.... Read More >>

Rooms are now open for WSHA’s 85th Annual Membership Meeting October 12-13 at the Seattle Marriot Waterfront!... Read More >>

Navos CEO David Johnson testified in Washington, D.C., in front of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee about the ways the Affordable Care Act has benefitted those with behavioral health needs in our state, and about the potential damage of scaling back the Medicaid expansion and policies of the ACA.... Read More >>

The complex nature of this program can be difficult to navigate, so WSHA has partnered with the Washington State Medical Association and Qualis Health to address the complexities of this new program and how to support all clinicians in making the most out of these changes. ... Read More >>

Friday, February 24 was the cutoff for the bills to be voted out of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees. All the bills that are still alive now move to their full house of origin for consideration and possible amendment, and the deadline for bills to pass through their house of origin is Wednesday, March 8.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the March 2, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

To say that taking advantage of the 340B drug discount program poses a challenge is an understatement. For years, WSHA has helped members understand and stay compliant with the nuances between the different patient types, and the involvement of the state and the federal government.... Read More >>

The recent Washington State Supreme Court ruling in Volk v DeMeerleer abandoned the longtime standard for when a provider has a duty to warn potential victims and law enforcement of a dangerous patient's inclination to cause harm. The previous standard required a warning be made when there was an actual threat of physical violence against an identifiable victim or victims. ... Read More >>

Friday was the cutoff for the bills to be voted out of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees. All the bills that are still alive now move to their full house of origin for consideration and possible amendment, and the deadline for bills to pass through their house of origin is Wednesday, March 8. In other words, in order to be alive after March 8, a bill that started in the House committees must pass a floor vote of the House and vice versa in the Senate. ... Read More >>