News

Just days after CMS received letters signed by 60 U.S. Senators and 225 members of the House of Representatives requesting a delay of the overall star rating, the agency announced it would postpone the launch until July. The letter, signed by Washington State’s Sen. Maria Cantwell and Reps. Suzanne DelBene, Denny Heck, David Reichert, Derek Kilmer and Dan Newhouse, states what WSHA has also expressed: the star rating may simplify complex measures to the point of inaccuracy.... Read More >>

WSHA has been actively following recent developments in Medicare payment for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Medicare Administrative Contractors have been instructed temporarily to hold all claims from RHCs for dates of service after April 1, 2016 until a correction is made in the payment file.... Read More >>

Hospitals are subject to an array of state and federal requirements regarding posting signage in hospitals and providing notices to patients, staff and the community. WSHA has prepared a list of signage requirements for hospitals to reference.... Read More >>

Many of our members have expressed frustration with the increasing burden of expanding health plan requirements on prior authorizations. WSHA and the Washington State Medical Association have been in discussions with the health plans directly as well as with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). ... Read More >>

On April 28 from 10:00-11:30 a.m., the Health Care Authority will be hosting a webinar to provide hospital staff an overview of the state’s Medicaid readmissions policy and an explanation of the quarterly hospital reports HCA sent each facility as part of its program on potentially preventable readmissions.... Read More >>

o prepare hospital staff for the SFY 2013 Disproportional Share Hospital (DSH) audit, the state’s consultant, Myers and Stauffer conducted a provider training webinar on April 7, which included a brief recap of the DSH rule and detailed overview of survey process. ... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner SUNRx is introducing a new prescription discount program aimed at helping all patients access discounted medications at any pharmacy. Patients can benefit from the savings of this program regardless of if they are insured, uninsured or underinsured, and they are not required to participate in SunRx’s 340B program. ... Read More >>

Board nominations are now open for the state’s new Cancer Research Endowment Authority Board established by the Washington State Legislature. The board will oversee and guide the cancer research endowment (CARE) fund – including the solicitation, selection and awarding of grants.... Read More >>

Sen. Linda Evans Parlette announced on Monday, April 11 that she intends to bring her legislative career to a close after 20 years of service to the 12th Legislative District. Sen. Parlette has a rich history of service in Washington State and was a huge champion for rural health, public hospital districts, expanding mental health services and improving the practice of pharmacy... Read More >>

During the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions, one of WSHA’s top priorities was advancing a public policy framework to support the expansion of services delivered via telemedicine. We are grateful for our partnership with the Washington State Medical Association and major insurers, notably Premera and Regence, to get this done.... Read More >>