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New Requirements for Provider-Based Clinics

A reminder to all licensed hospitals operating “provider-based clinics,” “off campus,”: the Washington State legislature during its 2012 session enacted HB 2582 requiring provider-based clinics to...

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New Court of Appeals Decision Provides Guidance on Medicaid Spenddown...

The recent appellate decision in Multicare v. State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sheds light on how hospitals should use a patient’s “spenddown” in the billing process...

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A Window into Hospital Charges – Medicare Releases Data on Charges and...

On Wednesday, Medicare released on extensive spreadsheet documenting the average hospital charges and associated Medicare payments for 100 most common Medicare inpatient services.  The release of this...

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Medicaid Disallows Reimbursement, Requires Reporting for Provider Preventable...

Starting  July 1, 2013, the Washington Medicaid program will not pay a provider for the health care costs of treating conditions that the provider could have prevented.  The rule, WAC 182-502-0022,...

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Tacoma Physician Group Pays $14.5 Million To Settle Medicare Over-Billing...

Sound Physicians, a Tacoma-based, national physician group that employs more than 700 hospitalists, paid $14.5 million to settle claims that it over-billed Medicare.  Former Sound Physicians’ employee...

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Increase in Costs for Copies – But Don’t Forget HIPAA (Updated)

Effective July 1, 2013, medical providers in Washington may increase their charges for searching and duplicating medical records.  The Department of Health (“DOH”) recently released the updated fee...

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Washington Certificate of Need Program Commences Rule Making: Consumer...

The Washington State Certificate of Need Program has announced its commencement of the rule-making process related to hospitals and dialysis.  This action is in response to the directive issued last...

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PSBJ Article on HIPAA Interviews OMW Attorney David Schoolcraft

The Puget Sound Business Journal issued an article today on HIPAA and the impact on business associates.  The article interviewed Ogden Murphy Wallace Attorney David Schoolcraft because of his...

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Public Hospital Districts Offering Maternity Services Must Offer Abortion...

A recent Washington Attorney General Opinion concludes that a public hospital district may not administer or fund programs to provide maternity care benefits or services without making provision for...

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Proposed CN Rules on Hospital Change of Control & Transparency

The Washington State Department of Health recently released its proposed rules and letter to Governor Inslee with regard to his directive to open rule making on the Certificate of Need (“CN”) hospital...

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DOH Issues New Hospital CN Rule & Transparency Requirements

Prior to the end of the year, and in compliance with Governor Inslee’s directive, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) issued new hospital Certificate of Need (CN) rules and transparency...

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Washington Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Webinar

The Washington State Health Care Authority announced that it will be hosting a webinar to aid in the registration for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.  This will help providers who are registering...

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HHS Issues HIPAA Guidance For Mental Health

HHS recently issued HIPAA guidance for mental health practitioners, in an effort to help providers wade through complicated decisions of when disclosures of patient information are permissible.  This...

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Skagit County Agrees to Pay $215,000 for HIPAA Violations

On March 6, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) reached a $215,000 settlement with Skagit County in northwest Washington state for violations of the...

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Providing Telemedicine Services? Pay Attention To State Licensing Requirements

Advancements in telemedicine offer exciting treatment possibilities for rural communities. Through audio-visual technology, patients in small communities now have the opportunity to access the...

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WA Certificate of Need Waiver for Psych Beds

The Washington Certificate of Need (“CN”) Program recently announced a temporary change in the CN requirements for acute care hospitals to change the use of existing licensed beds to psychiatric care...

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Washington Supreme Court Bans “Psychiatric Boarding”

On August 7, 2014, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that “psychiatric boarding” under Washington’s Involuntary Treatment Act (“ITA”) is unlawful. “Psychiatric boarding” is a term used to...

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Washington Earns “F”s on its Telemedicine Report Card

On September 9, 2014, the American Telemedicine Association issued two reports in which it graded all fifty states on telemedicine gaps in coverage and reimbursement and  physician practice standards...

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Emergency Rulemaking Amends Single-Bed Certification Rules

On September 18, 2014, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (“DSHS”) amended its rules regarding single bed certifications for psychiatric patients, publicized in this  Rule Making...

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Washington Certificate of Need – Tertiary Services Review

The Washington State Department of Health issued today an announcement that it is conducting a review of the tertiary services that it requires obtain certificates of need under the current regulations...

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