WSHA and state agencies continue collaborating on discharge barriers

WSHA is actively working with the Department of Health, the Department of Social & Health Services, the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Governor to alleviate strain on hospitals and address barriers to discharge. We have successfully advocated for substantial state action. In the last two weeks the state has established incentives to support skilled nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities. WSHA partnered with long-term care associations to successful advocate for the state to restart the state supported long term care staffing strike teams and reopen the Transitional Care Center of Seattle. We will continue to ask the state to re-establish COVID-19 skilled nursing facility units, increase support for long-term care facilities to increase staff salaries, address delays related to guardianships, and expand capacity for behavioral health patients. We will continue to work with the state and keep you updated on progress. (Zosia Stanley)