To:  Hospital CEOs, Chief Medical Officers, Human Resources, Risk Management, Legal   Staff Contact:     Cara Helmer, JD, RN, Policy Director, Legal Affairs carah@wsha.org | (206) 577-1827 Subject:... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals of changes made by Substitute House Bill 1893 which allows emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to practice outside of emergency settings...... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals of newly adopted rules around patient demographic data required to be reported to the Department of Health (DOH) via the Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS) under chapter 246-455 WAC. The new rules also establish a waiver for eligible hospitals. These rules are adopted pursuant to 2021 Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1272 (E2SHB 1272).... Read More >>

To: Hospital Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Medical Officers, Legal Counsel, and Government Affairs Staff Staff Contact: David Streeter, MPA, Policy Director- Government Affairs DavidS@wsha.org | (206) 216-2508... Read More >>

This bulletin is to inform hospitals of a new requirement to respond to record requests from overdose, withdrawal, and suicide fatality review teams. Local health departments are empowered to create such review teams starting on June 9, 2022.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals that by January 1, 2023 hospitals must adopt a policy on the prevention and control of the transmission of pathogens of epidemiological concern in accordance with a new law enacted through HB 1739 (2022). This change is required because HB 1739 modernizes current RCW 70.41.430 from its’ narrow focus on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to general provisions addressing “pathogens of epidemiological concern.”  ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert psychiatric hospitals licensed under RCW 71.12 to new requirements to notify Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in advance of patient discharges, and to engage with MCOs in discharge planning for relevant patients. These new requirements, passed under SHB 1860 are effective June 9, 2022.... Read More >>

This bulletin provides information regarding changes to the state’s Balance Billing Protection Act (BBPA) made during the 2022 legislative session to conform to the federal No Surprises Act (NSA) and expanded protections under the BBPA.  Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1688  (HB 1688) was signed by Governor Inslee and became effective March 31, 2022.  This bulletin also provides information regarding how the two Acts apply to various services and enrollee categories.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert hospitals to upcoming changes to the state charity care law, chapter 70.170 RCW. The changes to state law in Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1616 apply to care provided on or after July 1, 2022... Read More >>

This bulletin provides information for hospital contracting staff to consider as they identify and respond to offers from carriers for public option plans. ... Read More >>