News

Zosia Stanley, WSHA policy director for access, testified at a court hearing June 27 on the need for continued reform to our state’s mental health system. Commissioner Craig Adams ordered the hearing to address the state’s system to provide mental health for those needing long term care, including the wait to get into Western State Hospital and the difficulty in transferring patients out.... Read More >>

Washington State Nursing Association (WSNA) Executive Director announced this week that she will retire as of May 12, 2017. She has held the position for more than 17 years, and in an email she said she chose to set her end date far in advance to give the WSNA Board of Directors to find her replacement. ... Read More >>

Responding to the prescription drug epidemic has been a major issue on this year’s federal health agenda. In his FY 2017 budget proposal, President Obama proposed $1.1 billion for opioid abuse treatment, of which Washington State would be eligible for up to $20 million over two years, the White House said late last week.... Read More >>

On Wednesday, the Skagit County Superior Court ruled against Skagit Regional Health in the lawsuit over whether the public hospital district is providing pregnancy termination services in line with the state’s Reproductive Privacy Act. Skagit and the Washington State Hospital Association are disappointed in the ruling.... Read More >>

In an op-ed published by the Seattle Times on Thursday, Cassie Sauer, WSHA's Executive Vice President, talks about the need for continued reform to our state's mental health system.... Read More >>

Officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will travel to five WSHA member facilities on the Olympic Peninsula June 21-23, holding 90-minute opening listening and learning session to share current legislative initiatives and engage communities on current concerns. They will visit Jefferson Healthcare, Olympic Medical Center, Forks Community Hospital, Grays Harbor Community Hospital and Mason General Hospital.... Read More >>

Newly-appointed Western State Hospital CEO Cheryl Strange is facing possible jail time for refusing to comply with a court order to admit a particular patient currently being served through single bed certification at a WSHA member hospital. Strange said she wouldn’t override the hospital’s waiting list, where other patients who are sicker have priority.... Read More >>

WSHA recently sent the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) a comment letter and recommendations in response to the OIC’s request for comments related to health plan prior authorizations, which are used to determine if medical procedures, services or medications will be covered by health insurance. The OIC is considering rulemaking to streamline the prior authorization process and make it easier for consumers and providers to get prior authorizations.... Read More >>

The Washington Health Care Authority is seeking to fill three vacancies on the Health Technology Clinical Committee. Qualified health professionals who use health technology in their scope of practice and who have experience with evidence-based medicine are encouraged to apply. The application process has been extended. Applications will now be accepted until 5pm on June 24. Click here for more information on the application process.... Read More >>

WSHA recently sent the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) a comment letter and recommendations in response to the OIC’s request for comments related to health plan prior authorizations. The OIC is considering rulemaking to streamline the prior authorization process and make it easier for consumers and providers to get prior authorizations.... Read More >>