The purpose of this bulletin is to inform members of changes contained in Second Substitute Senate Bill 5601 (2SSB 5601). The bill: • Defines health care benefit managers and requires them to register and be regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to review further changes to the law governing the involuntary treatment of minors (RCW 71.34) under the omnibus bill 2E2SSB 5720. It also amends the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA, RCW 71.05). ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to review the use of real-time video technology for interviewing adult patients to determine whether to detain them under the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA). Two new laws effective June 11, 2020, ESHB 2099 and 2E2SSB 5720, permit video technology to be used by Designated Crisis Responders (DCRs) to interview a person held under the ITA, so long as a health care professional is present with the patient to facilitate the interview. ... Read More >>

This bulletin’s purpose is to notify hospitals about the changes contained in Substitute House Bill 2378 that impact physician assistants, osteopathic physician assistants, and supervising physicians. The new laws are intended to remove administrative burdens and allow for more efficient use of physician assistants. ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an overview of key changes to Washington’s civil commitment statues for adults and minors under 2E2SSB 5720. The omnibus bill amends RCW 71.05, the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) and RCW 71.34, Behavioral Health Services for Minors. Key changes include expanding the initial detention period from 3 days to 5 days, expanding patients’ rights, modifying ITA processes, and making important definitional changes. Except for the 5-day detention change and the definitions changes expanding detention criteria, these changes are effective June 11, 2020.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide hospitals and health systems with resources to ensure effective communication between the facility and individuals, including patients, people eligible to become patients, and their companions who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and/or who have communication disabilities, such as being blind, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. ... Read More >>

This bulletin is to inform hospitals and health systems of important behavioral health budget issues arising from the 2020 legislative session. ... Read More >>

This bulletin is to inform rural hospitals of recent changes to state law that will allow them to pursue designation as a home health shortage area. ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an overview of recent changes to state laws requiring private entities and public agencies to provide notice of data breaches involving personal information, including protected health information (PHI), to impacted individuals and the Washington State Attorney General (AG).... Read More >>

This bulletin’s purpose is to notify hospitals about the new substitute provider and credentialed provider reimbursement laws passed in HB 1552.... Read More >>