News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule requiring prospective payment hospitals that provide hip and knee replacements in selected metropolitan areas to participate in... Read More >>

Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest was designed to help train physicians, hospitals and their communities to be more comfortable in discussing and honoring patients’ wishes around advance care planning. These can be complicated and uncomfortable... Read More >>

Breastfeeding can give babies a healthy start in life. Hospitals play an important role in helping mothers start and continue breastfeeding. A new state program, Breastfeeding Friendly Washington Hospitals, recognizes hospitals that are taking steps to support breastfeeding. “We know that babies are more likely to maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives if they breastfeed for at least six months,” said state Secretary of Health John Wiesman. “Hospitals that encourage and support breastfeeding are helping to raise the healthiest next generation. Expectant parents will soon have an easier time finding out how breastfeeding-friendly their local hospital is thanks to the Breastfeeding-Friendly Hospitals program.”... Read More >>

To: CEOs/Administrators and Government Affairs Staff Now is a great time to set up meetings with members of Congress or their staffs to discuss issues impacting health care, as they have... Read More >>

The Washington State Hospital Association has moved! Our new office is in Downtown Seattle on the 14th floor of the Wells Fargo Center. Our new space offers additional meeting space... Read More >>

This bulletin is intended to inform hospital Finance and Quality leaders about the Washington State Hospital Association’s (WSHA’s) resources available around the new proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on bundled payment for hip and knee replacements, known as Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR). The resources include data, a web conference, and staff to help answer questions.... Read More >>

We plan for major life events such as college, marriage, and having children - yet when it comes to planning the last chapters of our life, people often do not discuss what kind of health care they want during this significant time. The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) and Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) are working towards the vision that: Everyone in Washington will receive care that honors personal values in the last chapters of life.... Read More >>

Consumer Reports released new hospital ratings this week, focusing on infection rates. This created the usual flurry of media interest. While rating categories based on averages don’t reflect improvements over... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide you with information about a new law, Senate Bill 5269, known as Joel’s Law, that allows family members and legal guardians to petition the court to review an involuntary detention decision under the Involuntary Treatment Act. The Washington State Hospital Association would like to thank Eric Neiman, Attorney, Portland Managing Partner of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith for contributing to this bulletin.... Read More >>

This bulletin is intended to inform you of opportunities to provide public comment on the state’s work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to seek a global waiver for the transformation of Medicaid. The state is seeking $3 billion in federal funds to support transformation. The state plans to submit its application to CMS in September 2015. WSHA and AWPHD want your comments and feedback on our draft letter to the state.... Read More >>