News

Hospitals and health systems which contract with Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for adult care, mental health, addiction, disability support or youth services are now required to assure that such services will not be disrupted or delayed by economic or industrial actions. ... Read More >>

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries will be hosting educational webinars on the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. ... Read More >>

WSHA released a bulletin on new contracting requirements for hospitals and health systems that are contractors of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).... Read More >>

Since January 2020, Medicaid (Apple Health) integrated managed care has been available statewide. ... Read More >>

The new rule requiring newborns to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) took effect Aug. 7, 2020, adding SMA to the screening panel that all newborns are required to receive.... Read More >>

Each year the Washington State Hospital Association recognizes the excellent work of individuals and organizations who make health care better for the residents of our state.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an overview of recent changes to Washington’s laws restricting employers’ use of noncompete agreements.... Read More >>

WSHA has been in discussions with HCA for several months with a request to increase payment for COVID cases. We are pleased that  August 10, HCA announced  it received CMS approval to temporarily pay an enhanced payment rate for Medicaid COVID-19 inpatient claims. The change will result in a 20 percent increase in payment for... Read More >>

August 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2021 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS)/ambulatory surgical center (ASC) proposed rule. Major provisions of the proposed rule include: An overall update to OPPS payment rates of 2.6 percent in CY 2021; Elimination of the inpatient-only list over three years, beginning... Read More >>

To improve patient access to care, HCA is adding additional Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) in three different service regions.  This is a result of the state’s finding that Medicaid enrollees had difficulties getting mental health and substance use disorder treatment in several of the regions.  To address this, HCA  announced starting in 2021: (1)... Read More >>