Washington's Health Care Authority awarded $1 million state innovation model grant

OLYMPIA -- Washington State Health Care Authority Acting Director MaryAnne Lindeblad announced today that the federal Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the state a $1 million "pre-testing assistance grant" to improve health care and ... - 02/22/2013

Implementing Emergency Room Best Practices Improves Care, Reduces State Medicaid Costs

Initial data shows improved health care coordination is a benefit to Medicaid clients and the state budget   SEATTLE—A new report on a collaborative effort of hospitals and physicians to reduce "unnecessary" emergency room visits and coordinate... - 01/24/2013

Health Care Authority Releases Annual Report on Employment Status of Medical Assistance Clients, Dependents

OLYMPIA – An annual report on the employment status of state medical assistance clients and their families shows that little has changed over the past five years – nearly one in 12 of those receiving state-sponsored medical coverage was employed for a... - 01/18/2013

Health Care Authority Prepares Website to Answer Medicaid Providers' Questions About Rate Increases

OLYMPIA - Washington State's Medicaid program, like all other states, is waiting for information from the federal government in order to finalize the rate increases for primary care providers promised under the Affordable Care Act. Under the health c... - 01/04/2013

Washington Health Benefit Exchange Names Apparent Successful Vendor for Call Center

Faneuil Inc. expected to provide statewide customer service starting next fall.   OLYMPIA – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange today named Faneuil Inc. the apparent successful vendor for the Exchange’s new call center. Faneuil is expected t... - 12/31/2012

Health Care Authority’s List of Optional Budget Cuts Includes Disability Lifeline, Basic Health, Children’s Coverage

OLYMPIA – The Health Care Authority submitted optional budget cuts of 5 percent and 10 percent to the Governor’s office today, including termination of the Basic Health plan, an Apple Health for Kids program that covers immigrant children, and the Dis... - 09/22/2011

Five Counties Get Expanded Choices From Medicaid's 2011 Managed Care Plans

OLYMPIA – Medicaid families in five Washington counties will be able to access more managed care options this coming year with the Healthy Options program. - 01/04/2011

Governor's Supplemental Budget Recommendations for Medicaid and HCA

In a grim budget year, Medicaid received some good news on Friday, December 17. Governor Gregoire announced she was restoring six of the most painful proposed budget cuts in the Medicaid program, and she made it clear she is asking the Legislature to ... - 12/17/2010

Governor's Biennial Budget Recommendations for Medicaid and HCA

Here's the problem Governor Gregoire addressed today - of the approximately $35 billion state budget, we have the constitutional authority to change about $14 billion - only 40 percent of the total. It is important to stop and consider that we have a ... - 12/16/2010

Washington Health Program Enrollment at 1,200 and Growing

(OLYMPIA, WA) – The Washington Health Program enrolled its 1,200th member last week, less than two months after the Health Care Authority (HCA) rolled out the new non-subsidized health coverage program for uninsured Washington residents. With more tha... - 09/01/2010

New Features Simplify Washington Health Online Application

To simplify the enrollment process for the new Washington Health program, we’ve added enhancements to the online application process. The online application is now integrated with the Standard Health Questionnaire (SHQ). This application also provides... - 06/29/2010

State Offers Low-Cost Health Coverage to Thousands of Uninsured

(OLYMPIA, WA) – With more than 100,000 people on a waiting list for the state’s Basic Health program, low-income Washington residents are finding few affordable options for health care coverage. To address this pressing need, the state is introducing... - 05/24/2010

Advance Directives Ensure You Get Your Way in the End

Americans like to plan birthday parties and anniversaries, but we are not as interested in planning how we want to spend the last days of our lives. Now is the best time to think about these important issues. Making, documenting, and communicating th... - 04/13/2010

How Different Types of People Will Be Affected by the Health Care Overhaul

On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system, approved by the Senate on Christmas Eve and by the House on Sunday. The House also adopted a package of changes — agreed to in negotiations among House... - 03/26/2010