The Washington State House of Representatives released its proposed budget March 27 for the 2017-2019 biennium. Like the Senate’s budget released the week prior, the House budget includes solid support for WSHA’s priorities. It calls for no cuts to Medicaid payments for hospital-based clinics, includes the hospital safety net assessment, includes good funding for mental health care and reform, and appropriates Medicaid waiver funds (which was mostly not included in the Senate budget).
However, WSHA is very concerned that the House’s tax bill (HB 2186) includes an increase to the business and occupation (B&O) tax that would affect hospitals in Washington State. The bill was introduced March 27, and we’re working to analyze its impacts on hospitals. Click here to read more about the House budget — as well as how it compares to the Senate budget — in Inside Olympia. (Chris Bandoli)
