News

On April 24, the Washington State House and Senate passed Substitute House Bill 1155, implementing new restrictions on hospital staffing, with most elements of the bill taking effect Jan. 1, 2020. The final bill passed after lawmakers formed a conference committee to determine the bill’s final details. SHB 1155 now awaits the governor’s signature to become law.... Read More >>

As we await final passage of the nurse/technologist staffing bill, I want to thank you for all your advocacy. We know the bill will be challenging to operationalize. However, we are in better shape than we would have been if we had not actively engaged.... Read More >>

The Department of Health (DOH) is proposing increases to hospital licensing fees from the current $138 to $220 per bed for hospitals licensed under 70.41 RCW and from $85 to $135 per bed for psychiatric and chemical dependency hospitals licensed under 71.12 RCW, about a 60 percent increase.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority (HCA) will be finalizing the Hospital Safety Net Assessment program for SFY 2020 once the 2019-2021 biennial budget is passed.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority is making available presentation slides from the SFY 2016 Disproportional Share Hospital (DSH) audit training webcast provided by Myers and Stauffer on April 3, 2019.... Read More >>

WSHA recently received an update from Health Care Authority (HCA) staff regarding the status of payments following the audit of Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments. ... Read More >>

SHB 1155 passed the Senate with an amendment that would limit all nursing shifts to eight hours in a 24-hour period. It would be a strict prohibition on longer shifts, with no exceptions. We strongly oppose the amendment.... Read More >>

Tobacco 21, legislation to restrict the sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to individuals age 21 and over, has been signed into law by Governor Inslee.... Read More >>

There is a saying about politics: “Laws are like sausages. It is best not to see them being made.” On the nurse staffing bill, SHB 1155, there is some very rancid sausage being made.... Read More >>

The Department of Health (DOH) is proposing increases to hospital licensing fees from the current $138 to $220 per bed for hospitals licensed under 70.41 RCW and from $85 to $135 per bed for psychiatric and chemical dependency hospitals licensed under 71.12 RCW, about a 60 percent increase. ... Read More >>