The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) will host a media briefing from 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, revealing the complete results of its 2023 financial survey of Washington state hospitals. WSHA staff will join a panel of hospital leaders from across the state to discuss how hospitals are managing losses and what the impacts and potential impacts are to patient access to care. Panelists include:
- EvergreenHealth Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ettore Palazzo
- Astria Toppenish Hospital Administrator Cathy Bambrick
- Island Health Chief Financial Officer Julie Stewart
WSHA staff joining the briefing include:
- President & Chief Executive Officer Cassie Sauer
- Chief Financial Officer Eric Lewis
- Senior Director, Government Affairs Caitlin Safford
This briefing is for members of the media only. If you would like to join, please register in advance at https://wsha-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlf-uvrzwjGdakIdChQi3AyAE9k7npwj0X. This briefing follows a media briefing in October 2023 revealing the results of the first six months of data from the year. Through June, hospitals sustained operating losses of nearly $750 million.
As financial losses continue, hospitals across the state have been forced to adjust service levels to retain overall access to care. This has impacted hospitals of all sizes in communities large and small. The recent Change Healthcare cyberattack has exacerbated financial challenges, interrupting cash flow and disrupting care for patients who have struggled to obtain the necessary prior authorizations to approve treatments.
This year, the state Legislature approved $10 million in funding for hospitals facing financial distress. Hospitals are eligible to apply for funding if they have less than 60 days of operations cash on hand, sustain negative financial margins or are facing bankruptcy. Of the 101 community hospitals in the state, 19 are facing circumstances dire enough to qualify for financial support.
Please send any questions to Communications Director Tim Pfarr at timp@wsha.org or (206) 577-1828.
