News

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 >>

Increasing our state’s immunization rates is a key element of WSHA’s strategic plan, as it helps us build a healthier community for our state. Fortunately, WSHA is not alone in this work, and the first Washington Immunization Summit will be held April 26, 2017 at the Conference Center at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.... Read More >>

Last week, the Washington State Hospital Association Public Policy Committee and Board of Trustees voted to endorse Initiative 1491. Known as the extreme risk protection order initiative, I-1491 would allow family members and law enforcement officers to ask a judge to keep firearms out of the hands of someone deemed a danger to themselves or others.... Read More >>

Hospitals that submitted preliminary Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) applications for state fiscal year 2017 have until October 31 to provide the Health Care Authority with any remaining missing application information for their application to remain active.... Read More >>