Contact Us
Washington State Hospital Association
999 Third Avenue
Suite 1400
Seattle, WA 98104
Senate Democrats this week selected Patty Murray as their assistant leader for the 2017-2018 Congress. This moves her up to the number three position in the Democratic leadership behind the party’s incoming leader, Chuck Schumer (NY) and minority whip Dick Durbin (IL). She currently serves as the Democratic Conference Secretary.... Read More >>
On November 8, the Bree Collaborative convened a special meeting of interested providers and health systems, health plans and others to discuss ways to improve proper authorizations. While WSHA was hopeful that the meeting would lead to a pathway to work with payers on a standardized approach across payers, it is unclear if there is traction for that concept.... Read More >>
On October 27th, the WSHA Medicaid Payment Task Force met with staff from the Health Care Authority to discuss the Authority’s proposal to update the method of payment for Medicaid hospital outpatient services for prospective payment system hospitals.... Read More >>
Now that the election is complete, we must now focus on good governance. WSHA will continue to advocate for access to high quality health care for all through a vibrant and robust delivery system in our state and our nation.... Read More >>
WSHA and the American Hospital Association (AHA) have outlined a post-election legislative agenda between now and the end of the year that addresses the consequences of the site neutral payment provisions in the 2015 budget on new hospital-based clinics and extends the moratorium of the enforcement of Medicare rules governing supervision of outpatient therapeutic services through the end of 2016.... Read More >>
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday issued a final rule updating the Medicare payment rates for hospital outpatient services and finalizing its policy related to services furnished in off-campus, provider-based hospital outpatient departments. Newly established departments (those established on or after November 2, 2015) will no longer be paid a separate hospital-based fee, but will be paid under the physician fee schedule for services beginning January 1, 2017.... Read More >>
Election Day is November 8, but voting in Washington State is already well underway through our mail-in system, and you should have received your ballots in the mail. (If you have not, contact your county auditor.) While the presidential race has dominated the news, the big unknown in our state is which party will control the state House (currently majority Democrat) and Senate (currently majority Republican).... Read More >>
Hospitals are making excellent progress in adopting the WSHA-developed standard financial assistance application form and standard communication plan. Approximately 75 percent of WSHA member hospitals are in the process of operationalizing these standard documents.... Read More >>
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week restored $44.25 million in funding for all-hazards preparedness to states, cities and territories, which had been redirected to respond to the Zika virus. The new funds are part of the fiscal year 2016 Zika supplemental funding signed into law last month.... Read More >>
In July 2014, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) rebased inpatient and outpatient rates and suggested a 3 percent cut to adjust for coding changes in the new system. WSHA pushed back and HCA agreed to make budget neutrality adjustments as needed. HCA recently completed its two-year analysis and determined no additional rate adjustments were needed.... Read More >>