News

HB 1523/SB 5556 would allow health insurance carriers to offer Washingtonians the option to purchase lower-costing health insurance coverage on the Health Benefit Exchange (the individual market). WSHA supports expanding access to health care coverage, but we have concerns with this bill. ... Read More >>

Friday, Feb. 22 marks the first cutoff of the state legislative session, when most bills need to advance out of their original policy committee to continue being considered. This session has been especially active for WSHA, as we are working on many high-priority issues that impact health care in our state. ... Read More >>

In the Feb. 14 edition of Weekly Report, WSHA highlighted that the Washington State Department of Health posted the 2019 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) numeric need projections.... Read More >>

The Washington State Department of Health has posted the 2019 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) numeric need projections. ... Read More >>

Changes to Washington State’s charity care rules are extremally important to WSHA and our member hospitals. ... Read More >>

Thank you all who joined WSHA’s hospital advocacy day last week! We had a great turnout with about 75 hospital leaders joining us for about 80 legislative visits. This week is a busy week in Olympia with many bills of interest up for hearings. This is also a first for many of us at WSHA – multiple hearings have been cancelled and rescheduled due to snow. The legislature is known for powering through regardless of weather conditions. ... Read More >>

Containing a measles outbreak takes a whole community response, led by governmental public health. It usually starts with an attentive health care provider quickly identifying and reporting a suspected measles case to their local health department.... Read More >>

In developing new models for delivering health care services in rural areas, federal officials should “take into account Washington State’s unique health care delivery system, geography and the specific needs of our rural hospitals and the residents they serve,” members of the Washington congressional delegation wrote this week to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma.... Read More >>

WSHA has been in contact with Health Care Authority (HCA) staff regarding the status of payments following the audit of Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments. ... Read More >>

While revenue collections in the state continue to be strong, it appears that policy decisions made to fund future costs in the McCleary bill in the 2017-2019 biennium may limit the legislature’s ability to spend money on any additional policy items without new revenue or cuts in other programs. ... Read More >>