Purpose The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about two changes impacting audio-only telemedicine reimbursement that were enacted into law during the 2022 legislative session. Effective June 9, 2022, hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW that serve as either an originating or distant site for audio-only telemedicine are prohibited from charging a facility... Read More >>

This bulletin is to inform hospitals of a new requirement to respond to record requests from overdose, withdrawal, and suicide fatality review teams. Local health departments are empowered to create such review teams starting on June 9, 2022.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals that by January 1, 2023 hospitals must adopt a policy on the prevention and control of the transmission of pathogens of epidemiological concern in accordance with a new law enacted through HB 1739 (2022). This change is required because HB 1739 modernizes current RCW 70.41.430 from its’ narrow focus on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to general provisions addressing “pathogens of epidemiological concern.”  ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert psychiatric hospitals licensed under RCW 71.12 to new requirements to notify Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in advance of patient discharges, and to engage with MCOs in discharge planning for relevant patients. These new requirements, passed under SHB 1860 are effective June 9, 2022.... Read More >>

This bulletin provides information regarding changes to the state’s Balance Billing Protection Act (BBPA) made during the 2022 legislative session to conform to the federal No Surprises Act (NSA) and expanded protections under the BBPA.  Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1688  (HB 1688) was signed by Governor Inslee and became effective March 31, 2022.  This bulletin also provides information regarding how the two Acts apply to various services and enrollee categories.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert hospitals to upcoming changes to the state charity care law, chapter 70.170 RCW. The changes to state law in Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1616 apply to care provided on or after July 1, 2022... Read More >>

This bulletin provides information for hospital contracting staff to consider as they identify and respond to offers from carriers for public option plans. ... Read More >>

This bulletin provides hospitals information about HB 1761, a new law that revises RCW 70.41.480, which requires Emergency Departments (EDs) to distribute opioid reversal medication to patients at risk of an opioid overdose.... Read More >>

This bulletin informs psychiatric hospitals that the Department of Health (DOH) final rule on psychiatric hospital fines, implementing HB 2426, went into effect on February 24, 2022. ... Read More >>

Purpose This bulletin reminds hospitals about a law enacted during the 2021 Washington State legislative session, which requires hospitals to contract with at least one public option plan for the 2023 plan year.... Read More >>