The 2017 open enrollment period to apply for health insurance coverage for 2018 will be from November 1 to December 15. This year’s open enrollment period is shorter than it has been in the past, and the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Washington Health Benefit Exchange have resources to help you inform your communities of this year’s changes and the importance of enrolling in a health insurance plan, as well as logistical details and tips for renewing coverage.... Read More >>

Conference resources from the WSHA 2017 Annual Member Meeting and Governance Education Day.... Read More >>

Pre-registration for the WSHA Annual Member Meeting and Governance Education Day will close on Friday, October 6. After this date, walkup registrations will be accepted onsite at the event October 12 and 13.... Read More >>

Open enrollment for Medicaid and private plans starts November 1. The federal budget for promoting enrollment was dramatically cut this year, so it’s going to be up to states and providers to ensure that residents get signed up for health coverage.... Read More >>

Join health care leaders, stakeholders and national Choosing Wisely representatives in Seattle on Friday, October 27 for a day-long in-depth look at how the Choosing Wisely initiative in Washington State is moving from education to implementation.... Read More >>

Join us at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18 for a webcast aimed at helping you understand Medicare's Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) program. The program objective is to assist medical professionals in making the most appropriate treatment decision for each individual's clinical condition.... Read More >>

Please join us at noon on Wednesday, October 11 for an educational webinar on the recent CMS updates on reporting of uncompensated care costs and the revised deadline to submit. This is a significant and time-sensitive topic, as these costs — reported on worksheet S-10 of the Medicare cost report — are currently used to determine each disproportionate share hospital’s payment from the $6.8 billion uncompensated care pool.... Read More >>

We look forward to seeing you in two weeks at the Seattle Marriot Waterfront for the WSHA Annual Member Meeting and Governance Education Day! If you haven’t registered yet, pre-registration is open through next Friday, October 6 at 5 pm. After this date and time, walkup registrations will be accepted onsite at the event.... Read More >>

The Puget Sound Chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and Washington State Department of Health are offering a one-day intensive workshop on Legionella prevention and outbreak management at the Tukwila Community Center October 30. The event will feature keynote speaker Janet E. Stout, Ph.D., and other national and regional experts.... Read More >>

There is increasing focus on the need for prevention and wellness training in health care. The epidemic of chronic disorders is often worsened by lifestyle choices, stress and other social factors. The good news is that many of those challenges respond well to whole-person approaches that help patients manage and reduce symptoms.... Read More >>