News

A summary of the bills WSHA will testify on from Jan. 25-29... Read More >>

The King County Superior Court ruled last week that Initiative 1366 is unconstitutional. I-1366 — from Tim Eyman — would decrease the state sales tax by 1 percent in April if the legislature did not pass a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to raise taxes. The state sales tax loss would have taken $1.4 billion out of the state budget in its first year.... Read More >>

Frustrated by recent safety findings by the federal government and the decision to postpone the opening of new units, the state House and Senate have held several hearings to understand the plan for improving Western State Hospital. Legislation has been introduced to create a legislative oversight committee, and many questions are being raised about how to move forward.... Read More >>

This morning, the House Health Care & Wellness Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 2730, which expands access to the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) to all licensed providers who can prescribe legend drugs, and making it easier for providers within hospitals to access PMP data. ... Read More >>

WSHA submitted four global waiver proposals to the state Health Care Authority (HCA) on ways to transform Medicaid and improve care for patients. HCA released a broad call for proposals to assist in identifying areas the state will pursue in a global waiver to draw down $3 billion from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).... Read More >>

Pierce County will soon have a new psychiatric hospital. The Washington State Department of Health has approved the Certificate of Need application from CHI Franciscan Health and MultiCare Health System to jointly build and operate a $41 million, 120-bed non-profit psychiatric hospital in Tacoma. ... Read More >>

We are interested in informing hospitals about the Washington State Health Care Authority’s adjustments to February 1 payment rates. Working with WSHA, the Health Care Authority (HCA) has agreed to increase inpatient rates for the next quarter by about 18 percent, in order to restore errors it made in cutting rates during the last two quarters.... Read More >>

On Friday, the House Health Care & Wellness Committee will hold a public hearing for House Bill 2450, which would give critical access hospitals taking part in a pilot program the ability to return to critical access status if they so choose when the pilot is complete.... Read More >>

On Tuesday, the Senate Health Care Committee will hold a public hearing for Senate Bill 6228. The bill seeks to have Washington State participate in a multi-state compact that would streamline physician licensure and make it easier for doctors to practice in multiple states. ... Read More >>

Senate Bill 5453 proposes to allow ambulatory surgical facilities to add “recovery care centers” that would care for post-surgical patients for an extended 48 hours after surgery, in addition to the currently permitted time of 23 hours and 59 minutes. This is a slightly modified version from last year’s bill, also opposed by WSHA.... Read More >>