Washington’s healthcare affordability crisis ‘amplified in rural areas,’ industry leaders say
Shane Ersland | Sep 26, 2023 | Washington
Private investments needed to help address Washington’s middle-income housing crisis, experts say
Shane Ersland | Sep 25, 2023 | Washington
New laws aim to bolster Washington’s dental workforce, particularly among hygienists
Shane Ersland | Sep 12, 2023 | Washington
New laws passed during the 2023 legislative session will provide more support for Washington’s dental workforce, particularly among hygienists. Lawmakers passed several new dental reform laws during the session, including House Bill 1466, which allows dental hygienists moving to Washington more time to get licensed while working in
Washington requests amendment to Section 1115 MTP waiver to expand coverage for former foster care youth
Shane Ersland | Aug 22, 2023 | Washington
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) recently requested an amendment to Washington’s Section 1115 Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) waiver that would expand coverage for former foster care youth. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently approved Washington’s request to
Whole Washington lays out comprehensive proposal for state-governed health plan
Shane Ersland | Aug 14, 2023 | Washington
Whole Washington presented a comprehensive plan for developing a state-governed health plan that would cover all residents to the state’s Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) on Thursday. Whole Washington is a grassroots organization that advocates for a universal healthcare system in the state. The UHCC was established during
WSHA details initiatives that will help Washington hospitals receive needed funds for difficult-to-discharge patients
Shane Ersland | Aug 10, 2023 | Washington
Washington hospitals will be getting needed extra funds to care for patients who are difficult to discharge following the state’s 2023 legislative session. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5103, which will increase payments to acute care hospitals for difficult-to-discharge Medicaid patients. State of Reform discussed the impact of SB
Washington health agencies try to find balance between telework, in-office business practices
Shane Ersland | Jul 27, 2023 | Washington
The COVID-19 pandemic altered workforce habits for many organizations, making telework a permanent option for a large variety of workers. Washington health agencies discussed how telework has affected their business practices during a State Government and Elections Committee meeting on Tuesday. Michaela Doelman, assistant director of human resources
Medicaid redeterminations: Washington’s disenrollment rate much lower than many states
Shane Ersland | Jul 24, 2023 | Washington
Washington has seen about four percent of its Medicaid enrollees lose coverage since redeterminations began in April, which is a much lower rate than many reporting states. Trinity Wilson, assistant director for Medicaid customer service at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), updated lawmakers on the state’s redetermination process