WSHA’s Director of Rural Health Programs Jacqueline Barton True has been selected to join the 2017 cohort of Culture of Health Leaders, which is a program co-led by the National Collaborative for Health Equity and the CommonHealth ACTION with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Jacqueline’s work will focus on building Washington’s rural communities and addressing social determinates of health.... Read More >>

Senate Republicans are making a last-ditch effort at repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through budget reconciliation, racing to beat a September 30 deadline to pass a bill with just 50 votes (plus a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Pence). The bill would replace federal funds for Medicaid expansion and subsidies for individual market insurance sold in the marketplaces with a lump sum block grant for states. It would also repeal the ACA’s individual and employer mandates while giving states flexibility in enforcement of additional consumer protections.... Read More >>

Over the last week, Hurricane Irma began its destructive journey across Florida. Despite the risks, hospital teams throughout the state remained on the job throughout the storm. Now, thousands of caregivers and hospital teams across Florida are caring for patients despite the damage to their own homes. Although the storm’s full impact is still being assessed, we know that many of our hospital colleagues lost homes or experienced significant property damage. ... Read More >>

Hospitals are required to care for everyone who comes through the door with the most intense care that is needed and available, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Hospitals are also required to help low-income patients cover their medical bills through charity care. This helps ensure that everyone is able to get the right care, at the right place, at the right time.... Read More >>

Houston is my hometown, and I’m watching in horror as it drowns. While we saw some wild Texas weather during my childhood, we never saw anything as devastating as Hurricane Harvey. I still have friends and family in the area. They are all safe. Some are in their homes, but quite a few evacuated. This week is only the beginning of the challenges Houston faces. The repercussions from this storm will last for years.... Read More >>

You can now nominate a leader or program for WSHA’s Joe Hopkins Memorial Award and Community Health Leadership Award (respectively). The awards will be presented at WSHA’s Annual Member Meeting Oct. 12 in Seattle.... Read More >>

As a University of Virginia alumna who spent four years of my life in Charlottesville, Virginia, it was absolutely heartbreaking to see the violence that unfolded there over the weekend. There is absolutely no room for hatred in America, and the events that transpired over the weekend have sent shockwaves through our communities.... Read More >>

One of WSHA’s greatest strengths is its ability to convene members and different groups to collaborate and solve problems together. Just last week, we were able to use this strength again. On May 24, WSHA hosted a large meeting with representatives from the state Department of Health (DOH), the regional Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) and member hospitals from across the state to collaboratively address health challenges that impact all of Washington State.... Read More >>

The WSHA Board of Trustees meets at least five times a year to set ensure WSHA is on-track to meeting our ambitious goals. There are 24 voting members, and they represent the spectrum of our state’s hospitals: urban/rural, large/small, system/single facility, and everything in between. At the May meeting, the board focused on two main issues of the legislative session: mental health and the new nurse staffing committee law.... Read More >>

Five organizations that represent Washington State’s largest health care delivery systems, physicians and providers are united in their disappointment with the passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the House of Representatives. All believe the bill will harm their patients and the state’s health care system and are committed to working with the Senate to defeat or significantly modify the bill in line with their principle of preserving coverage... Read More >>