HB 1967 would place restrictions on the use of noncompete agreements, instead favoring increased use of alternatives, such as nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements. While the legislation is predominately directed to the tech industry, these alternatives would not protect the investments hospitals and health systems make when they recruit physicians.... Read More >>

A list of bills WSHA is testifying on for the week of February 13-17, 2017.... Read More >>

We are very thankful for everyone who comes to Olympia to testify! Your testimony is essential for helping legislators and the public to understand the real impact of proposed legislation.... Read More >>

The Health Care Authority recently provided WSHA with details on the proposed Governor’s budget cuts to hospital-based clinics. Under the proposal, the cuts would affect all services provided in off-campus hospital department locations, including hospital-based clinics.... Read More >>

HB 1546 and SB 5434 (companion bills) would allow general-acute care and freestanding psychiatric community hospitals to provide long-term, court-ordered mental health services. Currently, long-term mental health patients go to Eastern State Hospital and Western State Hospital, when there is a bed available. Patients could be better served when closer to home, communities and families. Patients transitioned out of care when close to home with community supports are less likely to be readmitted.... Read More >>

House Bill 1810 will clarify that mental health providers have a duty to warn potential victims and law enforcement when a patient makes an actual threat of physical violence against the reasonably identifiable victim or victims. This long standing standard for when a duty exists was abandoned by the Supreme Court when the court determined the question of whether the warning was adequately made is dependent on the facts and circumstances in the case. ... Read More >>

HB 1426 and SB 5248 would expand access to PMP data, letting facilities and providers examine larger prescription trends in an effort to improve prescribing patterns and decrease unnecessary opiate prescriptions. It would also create a system to notify providers when their patient has an overdose event.... Read More >>

Washington’s hospitals are committed to ensuring patients get the hospital care they need regardless of their ability to pay for that care. Providing health care to those that cannot afford to pay is part of the mission of Washington’s hospitals, and state law requires hospitals to provide free and discounted inpatient and outpatient care. To assist patients, WSHA has developed a standard financial assistance application form and a standard plan for communicating about financial assistance (charity care).... Read More >>

Safe staffing is a crucial component of patient safety, but mandating inflexible nurse staffing ratios or stringent meal and rest break requirements does not improve patient care or outcomes. Staffing ratios, also called patient assignment limits or minimum staffing standards, are mandated only in California and data does not demonstrate improved patient care. ... Read More >>

The Senate Health Care Committee and House Health Care & Wellness Committee will have hearings this week on legislation to create an interstate physician licensure compact (HB 1337 and SB 5221). The compact would allow physicians to more efficiently become licensed to practice in multiple states. It would also allow Washington State to maintain local control and accountability of physicians’ licensure and disciplinary actions.... Read More >>