The Health Care Authority (HCA) is encouraging payers and providers to complete its survey on value based payments, “Paying for Value Survey: Measuring Health Care Payment and Delivery System Transformation in Washington State.” The survey will track movement towards value-based payment adoption, barriers to adoption, and implementation of accountable health care strategies.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority is still in process of providing additional information on its changes to Apple Health enrollment under which clients will be retroactively enrolled in managed care from the beginning of the month. The information will be provided in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions document, generated in response to questions raises by WSHA and WSHA member hospitals.... Read More >>

On April 28 from 10:00-11:30 a.m., HCA will be hosting webinar to provide hospital staff an explanation of the quarterly hospital reports HCA sent each facility as part of its Potentially Preventable Readmissions (PPR) program, which replaces denial of individual inpatient readmissions with prospective adjustments to inpatient payment rates. ... Read More >>

WSHA and member hospitals have expressed concerns regarding the Health Care Authority’s (HCA) changes to Apple Health enrollment. As of April 1, 2016, enrollees will be retroactively assigned to a managed care plan as of the beginning of the month the patient is enrolled, rather than at the beginning of the month following enrollment. ... Read More >>

Both the state and federal government are adopting bundled payments for total hip and knee replacements as an attempt to move to value based purchasing. On March 17th, the state Health Care Authority announced that Virginia Mason Hospital & Medical Center will serve as its center of excellence for state employees and others covered under the Public Employees Benefits Board plan. ... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is planning significant changes to Apple Health enrollment. Under a new policy effective April 1, 2016, enrollees will be retroactively assigned to a managed care plan as of the beginning of the month the patient is enrolled, rather than at the beginning of the month following enrollment. HCA will be hosting a webinar on March 17, from 2:00- 3:00 p.m. to provide information regarding the changes and answer questions.... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner PARA HealthCare Financial Services has written an article that offers strategies for moving toward a meaningful and accessible pricing transparency model while at the same time reducing bad debt, improving upfront collections, and providing high quality customer service.... Read More >>

The Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual requires hospitals to adjust their Medicare cost reports to eliminate the portion of association dues related to lobbying expenses. For calendar year 2015, the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) has determined 21 percent of its membership dues were expended in activities that meet the Medicare definition of lobbying. For the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts (AWPHD), 18 percent of its membership dues were used for lobbying. ... Read More >>

In a joint letter WSHA and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems strongly opposed site neutral payment policies on provider-based hospital outpatient departments. Submitted to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, the letter was in response to a request for provider feedback on these policies.... Read More >>

WSHA hosted a one-hour webinar Feb. 23 to provide basic information and answer questions on Link4Health, the state’s effort to advance electronic exchange of clinical records and transform health care. This new program, sponsored by the Health Care Authority (HCA), is intended to provide real-time information exchange among providers caring for Medicaid patients. ... Read More >>