News

Washington state lawmakers are currently considering Second Substitute House Bill 1155, which has unintended consequences that place patients at risk.... Read More >>

The legislature has now turned its attention to hearing bills from the opposite chamber. For the next couple of weeks, WSHA will feature bills that are receiving hearings and continuing to move through the process. ... Read More >>

For the next couple of weeks, WSHA will feature bills that are receiving hearings and continuing to move through the process. We expect budgets to be released from each chamber in the next week or so. ... Read More >>

I, along with many health care professionals and leaders, am highly alarmed by the potential impact of on-call language in proposed legislation currently in Olympia. House Bill 1155/Senate Bill 5190 would introduce rigid restrictions on the use of on-call staffing and overtime, prohibiting hospitals from using overtime and pre-scheduled on-call as tools for staff, except in emergency situations. ... Read More >>

Many of the bills WSHA is working on that have passed their chamber of origin. The next major cutoff is Wednesday, April 3, when bills must be referred to policy committees in the opposite chamber. ... Read More >>

For many Washington residents, intensive outpatient mental health services can be life-changing. These services are essential to “bridging the gap” of health care for Washingtonians who have been discharged from a hospital but still need intensive care to assist in their recovery. ... Read More >>

WSHA’s Government Affairs team has published its March 2019 state regulatory update to its State Regulatory Issues webpage. ... Read More >>

Outpatient mental health services like partial hospitalization — which are programs that allow patients to come in for treatment during the day and return home at night — are essential for Washington residents who need intensive care, but not to the degree that they require inpatient hospitalization. ... Read More >>

Rigid restrictions on the use of on-call staffing could mean hospitals won’t have access to staff when organs become available and patients could miss out on critical matches.... Read More >>

The House and Senate are now considering bills that have advanced through their respective committees, giving them an opportunity to be voted on in either the House or Senate floor. ... Read More >>