State gets okay from feds for next phase of health care

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington State Health Care Authority have announced a final contract that ensures the state can continue transforming health care to achieve better health, reward high-quality care and curb health care costs.

“This agreement comes at a time when many people are feeling uncertainty about their health care,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “As we work to protect the gains our nation has made in ensuring access to affordable, high-quality health care, we know that health transformation will continue in our state.”

The five-year Washington State Medicaid Transformation Project provides up to $1.1 billion in incentives for rewarding high-quality care. It takes a patient-centered, holistic approach to care, creates partnerships with communities to address social determinants of health and holds down cost increases; as well as $375 million to support critical services for Apple Health clients.

“This step represents an important opportunity to demonstrate that we can transform health care to better serve the needs of working families, children, seniors and people with disabilities by helping providers work with each other and with their communities,” U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said. “This project is a testament to the flexibility of Medicaid and I am proud to continue giving my full support to our state’s efforts to coordinate care and improve outcomes for so many families across Washington.”

“Improving the health of our children and their families through better medical, mental and substance use treatment is fundamental to improving the economic and social well-being of our citizens,” acting DSHS Secretary Pat Lashway said. “This demonstration project will provide support to all areas of the state to improve the effectiveness of care and enable mental health services to reach all of our communities. And it helps us address the rapid growth in the aging population by providing innovative ways of delivering long-term care services.”

The demonstration is a collaborative effort to streamline the health care system. Fundamental components of the transformation effort were designed with input from health care leaders, providers, community advocacy groups, public health representatives, and citizens, among others.

Locally-led efforts will engage and support clients, providers and communities through:

Delivery system transformation strategies led by regional Accountable Communities of Health.

A broader array of service options to enable older adults and individuals with disabilities to stay at home and delay or avoid need for more intensive care.

Key foundational community support services for Medicaid clients with the most critical needs.

“Making sure people get healthy and stay healthy is the backbone of a thriving population,” Cassie Sauer, president and CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association said. “This demonstration positively impacts the people of Washington by ensuring they get the right care at the right time, in the right care setting. This allows Washington hospitals to focus not only on the people who walk through our doors, but to provide innovative approaches to care for the whole community.”

“Putting our patients’ interests first is the focus of every physician,” Shane Macaulay, MD, president of the Washington State Medical Association said. “Complete health care requires care for both physical needs and mental health. Providing patients access to necessary services in the community helps them remain healthy. This effort gives our state the opportunity to bring the community together so that all Washingtonians have resources and access to ‘whole-person’ care that addresses their health needs and enables them to live healthy lives.”

In a speech today, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said, “Today we approved a Washington waiver that will improve health and bring down costs by improving coordination of behavioral and physical health services.”

For more information about the demonstration, visit http://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/healthier-washington/medicaid-transformation.

Odessa hospital administrator Mo Sheldon submitted this press release from the governor’s office and was optimistic about the state’s approach to providing healthcare.