Last Friday, WSHA submitted four global waiver proposals to the state Health Care Authority (HCA) on ways to transform Medicaid and improve care for patients. HCA released a broad call for proposals to assist in identifying areas the state will pursue in a global waiver to draw down $3 billion from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The state could receive upwards of 100 proposals. WSHA’s proposals include:
- Deploying of community care coordinators for high utilizers of emergency department services, focusing on behavioral health conditions; developed with WA-American College of Emergency Physicians and the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA).
- Expanding end-of-life care improvements through WSHA and WSMA’s partnership on Honoring Choices.
- Building on the work of the Safe Deliveries Roadmap, expanding the use of assessments, including mental health, for woman at-risk of poor birth outcomes.
- Exploring a pre- and post-surgical value-based payment bundle for rural hospitals and health systems.
The next steps are a public comment period, and then HCA will narrow down the project proposals to a small menu and negotiate with CMS. Click here to view the HCA’s website listing the received proposals. (Chelene Whiteaker)