Work group to develop health system recommendations
A state Universal Health Care Work Group formed last year is working on recommendations to the state legislature regarding a universal, or single-payer, health...
Inslee signs plastic bag ban despite COVID-19 concerns with reusable bags
Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law ESSB 5323 which bans the use of plastic bags, even though other states around the country are...
Industry responds with resources
In response to the coronavirus causing COVID-19, industry leaders throughout the state are mobilizing communications channels to provide resources and issue guidance for both...
Work group divided over universal healthcare
The state Universal Health Care Work Group has released its initial report to the legislature on the idea of a single-payer or “universal” state...
Premera announces rural healthcare access grants
Healthcare insurance provider Premera has announced an investment of $10.5 million in grants over four years to Washington State University’s (WSU) community-based medical school...
Single-payer system would require $28 billion in new taxes
This year the state legislature passed SB 5526 which created a standardized health plan through the public health care exchange. Business and industry groups opposed...
Contemplating a single-payer system
Washington state lawmakers this session considered several bills intended to reduce healthcare costs. However, while the approach focuses on capping the rates by health...
Healthcare “standardized” plan proposal passes
The Washington state lawmakers in the final days of session approved legislation intended to lower healthcare costs, but opponents say it will have the...
Health care bill clears House
The Washington House voted 53-38 on April 10 in favor of a Senate bill purported to lower health care costs, while detractors argued prior...
One step closer to socialized medicine?
In a 57-41 vote on Mar. 8, the Washington House approved ESSHB 1523 after an extended and heated discussion that at one point caused...
Seeking solutions to healthcare employment issues
Employers in Washington’s healthcare sector are struggling with the employment pipeline and retainment, especially in rural areas. Representatives from the sector are now recommending...
Charting a course to private health care coverage
Lawmakers have approved a measure which would guarantee individual market health care coverage in all counties in Washington, regardless of whether or not a...
House divided over individual provider bill
Lawmakers proved unwavering while discussing the passage of SB 6199 during House floor debate. There was a clear divide between Republicans and Democrats, with...
Individual provider bill controversial
Lawmakers opposed to SB 6911 are arguing the bill would take away the freedom of choice for individual home care providers when considering whether...
Adopting a national model for insurance companies
Under a new bill, insurance companies would be required to follow a national framework for managing and reporting their business activity.
Proponents of SB 5069...
Business stakeholders wary of reinsurance bill
Business representatives are voicing concerns that a new bill related to health care reinsurance would mean yet another cost burden on small businesses and...
Washington Becomes 5th State to Mandate Paid Family and Medical Leave
10 years after the Washington legislature first approved a framework without a clear plan for implementation, Governor Jay Inslee has signed a bill into...
Paving The Way For Top-Notch Physicians
A bill requiring Washington to join an interstate compact offering streamlined physician licenses is well on its way to becoming law. As of Wednesday,...
Inviting Skilled Medical Practitioners To Washington
A measure that would join Washington with 18 other states in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact was met with favorable testimony in the a...
Washington’s Consumer Database On Medical Costs Faces Fiscal Challenge
As Washington state prepares for the fall 2017 launch of its public-facing database on comparative costs and quality of different medical procedures, some of...
2017 Launch Eyed For Washington Consumer Database On Medical Procedures
Washington state is making progress on a planned All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) that officials now say could be ready by Fall 2017. State legislators and other stakeholders agree the state's APCD would...
Free Markets Versus Intervention: Murray, Vance Square Off In First Debate
In a debate hosted by Gonzaga University this week, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Republican challenger Chris Vance promoted distinct visions of how to grow...
Reversing The ACA Meltdown: More Power To The People
An estimated 29,000 Washingtonians purchasing individual health plans will have to choose between one or two insurers within the state healthcare exchange for 2017,...
Critics: Washington Health Care Authority, Exchange Still Need To Shape Up
The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) administers the state Medicaid program, Apple Health. The Washington healthcare insurance marketplace, or "exchange," is called Healthplanfinder. It...
Telehealth Growing, But Needs A Boost
Over the next 10 to 15 years, Washington is expected to face a shortage of 3,000 to 4,000 doctors and 24,000 registered nurses. Already,...
Obama’s Public Option Panned
Concerned about consumer costs and under-enrollment, President Obama is asking Congress to consider a public option to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It would...
Prescribing Good Medicine For A Troubled Healthcare System, In Both Washingtons
Although the percent of Washingtonians without health insurance has dropped from 14.5 percent in 2012 to 7.3 percent in 2014, simply finding coverage isn’t...
State’s All-Payer Claims Database Still Far Short Of Lift-Off
An All-Payer Claims Database for Washington sounded like such a good idea. After approving a constrained version of one in 2014, lawmakers approved plans...
Almost Half A Billion Off: Health Care Authority Budgeting Goofs Rankle
State lawmakers will have to fit a total of $463 million in miscalculations by the state Health Care Authority (HCA) into this year’s supplemental...
Data Visualization: Key Washington State Public Health Indicators
Washington state employers are attuned to public health indicators which reveal insights into the regions where their workforces reside. If certain health problems and...
