Recent member news from the December 15, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized and posted the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notification (MOON) form. Finalizing the form was the last outstanding piece needed to implement the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act (NOTICE Act), which requires hospitals to notify Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollees orally and via the standardized form when the patient is placed in observation status rather than being admitted as an inpatient. ... Read More >>

ver the course of the day, a team of 19 volunteers from PeaceHealth — including orthopedic surgeons, nurses and other clinical and non-clinical staff — teamed up with volunteers from Superfeet Worldwide and Cornerstone Prosthetics and Orthotics to care for 363 men, women and children. In addition to getting their foot care needs met from care providers, each who came during the day received a bag for personal belongings, two pair of wool socks, a hygiene kit, chap stick, a foot care kit, and a pair of warm, waterproof boots.... Read More >>

Registration is now open for Washington Hospital Service’s 2017 LEAD Academy: an intensive six-day, 12-module training experience using innovative tools and experiential learning to empower recently hired, newly appointed or previously untrained health care leaders to better understand and use their strengths. The first session is March 14.... Read More >>

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is encouraging Washington Healthplanfinder customers to take early action to secure health and dental coverage that begins at the New Year. Residents have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 23 to sign up for coverage with a start date of January 1.... Read More >>

Membership updates from the December 15, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Sunnyside Community Hospital & Clinics announced this week that it has signed an agreement to buy Yakima Regional Cardiac and Medical Center and Toppenish Community Hospital — which are owned by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc. — for about $45 million.... Read More >>

The Washington Health Workforce Sentinel Network is a group of health care providers from a wide range of facilities that provide “ground level” data to educators, trainers and policymakers to help them respond to health workforce demand changes as they emerge. The network launched its second survey of health care providers last month, and data collection closes next Friday, December 16.... Read More >>

The Senate this week approved a catch-all health bill, sending it to the president for his signature. The centerpieces of the bill are aimed at speeding up the process for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of new drugs and medical devices, and boosting reach funds for National Institutes of Health (NIH). Sen. Patty Murray was instrumental in the development of the FDA and NIH provisions.... Read More >>

Scott Hilburn, chair of the Hospital Board of Commissioners at Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics, has been appointed to the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Governance. His term with the AHA will start Jan. 1, 2017 and will continue through Dec. 31, 2019... Read More >>