This bulletin provides hospitals information on recent changes to 71.32 RCW, Washington’s law authorizing mental health advance directives (MHADs).... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems of a change of interpretation to section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On May 10, 2021, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will interpret section 1557 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems about legislation enacted in the 2021 legislative session requiring additional worker protections during the currently declared state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in the event of any future public health emergencies. These new laws, ESSB 5115 and ESSB 5190, are now in effect. ... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform critical access hospitals, small hospitals with fewer than 25 beds in operation, and sole community hospitals that Substitute House Bill 1155, legislation regarding staffing requirements enacted in 2019, is effective for your hospitals on July 1, 2021.... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about the new buprenorphine practice guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), effective April 28, 2021. The new guidance removes a key barrier to obtaining an X-Waiver for prescribing buprenorphine by exempting covered practitioners from certain requirements. This regulatory change will make it easier for practitioners to obtain an X-Waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about the new COVID-19 safety guidance for pharmacies issued by Washington State’s Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) and Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems about the new clean buildings standard that requires compliance as early as June 1, 2026. ... Read More >>
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package with significant impacts on hospitals and health systems.... Read More >>
The purpose of this Bulletin is to inform WSHA and AWPHD members of the proportion of membership dues used for lobbying purposes... Read More >>
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide psychiatric hospitals and acute care hospitals with inpatient behavioral health programs or that accept Single Bed Certification guidance on when they may disclose information related to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to a patient’s family and other close relations without the patient’s consent.... Read More >>
