On Jan. 1, 2015 the Washington State Department of Health launched a planning effort to create a state-level structure for clinical engagement on issues related to Crisis Standards of Care during an emergency of state-level importance. The need for regional medical surge planning that incorporates the ability to implement regional crisis standards of care is recognized by many local, state and federal agencies.... Read More >>

After several years of frustration and advocacy, hospitals should soon see meaningful reform to the Recover Audit Contractor (RAC) program. Effective January 1, the amount of audit requests RACs will be able to request for a hospital will be reduced by three-fourths, from 2.0 percent down to 0.5 percent of the hospital’s paid Medicare claims from the previous year.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority recently sent Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals notices of new Medicaid inpatient and outpatient payment rates, effective November 1. These changes are due to state calculations to ensure budget neutrality. ... Read More >>

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is beginning the process of updating the Medicaid payment methodology for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics. HCA is in the final stages of contracting with a technical assistance consultant to work with stakeholders to develop a successor to the current alternative payment methodology (APM).... Read More >>

On November 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its rule concerning payment of hip and knee replacements for hospitals in selected regions. The new program goes into effect April 1, 2016 and will affect hospitals in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan service areas that provide hip and knee replacement surgery.... Read More >>

This bulletin provides information on two financial assistance documents that WSHA will recommend every hospital adopt. WSHA intends to recommend that all hospitals adopt the standard financial assistance application and communication plan once these documents are finalized and approved by the WSHA Board. These documents focus on the patient-facing portions of the financial assistance process and do not dictate the levels of financial assistance offered at individual hospitals.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals with information should they wish to appeal changes to their Medicaid hospital payment rates effective November 1. WSHA recommends they file a rate appeal with the Health Care Authority (HCA) within 60 days of the date of their rate notice to protect their right to a rate correction if it is determined the new rates are in error.... Read More >>

Important information on standard financial assistance application form and communication plan. WSHA will host a webinar on Monday, November 23, 2015 on the development of a standard financial assistance application form and standard financial assistance communication plan for Washington State hospitals. The webinar will include discussion of the impetus to develop standard documents, an overview of the workgroup process, and review of the draft application form and communication plan. ... Read More >>

The Washington State Department of Labor (L&I) and stakeholder groups continue to discuss modifying the Hazardous Drugs rules in WAC 296-62-500, Part R, to allow flexibility in provisions related to hospital equipment needed for the handling of hazardous drugs.... Read More >>

The president Nov. 2 signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act, P.L. 114-74, passed by Congress last week to raise the nation’s debt limit and set spending targets for the federal budget for the next two fiscal years. Site-neutral payments for new provider-based hospital outpatient departments are included in the legislation – a provision that was strongly opposed by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and WSHA.... Read More >>