State health care leaders criticize Republicans’ Medicaid plan
May 16, 2025Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities, is a critical revenue source for all hospitals.
Hospitals’ financial outlook improves, but local health care industry still operating in the red
May 14, 2025Reimbursement rates are down, Medicaid funding is in question and recent state budget changes could hurt hospitals’ bottom lines.
St. Anthony owner expands partnership with Seattle Children’s Hospital
May 12, 2025The expanded partnership will reduce the amount of travel for patients and eliminate barriers to quality care, the company said.
Joel’s Law advocates seek expansion of law governing involuntary mental health treatment
May 07, 2025The parents of the man for whom Joel’s Law is named want it to allow friends to ask a judge to require involuntary treatment.
State’s solution to its budget deficit could cost hospitals millions of dollars
Apr 22, 2025Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, which owns both hospitals on the Kitsap Peninsula, is bracing for the fallout from Washington’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit and the impacts it could have across its network of Puget Sound hospitals. State hospitals have lost millions of dollars and struggled to regain profitability since the pandemic. Now, they estimate they
Bill would make it harder for insurance companies to deny mental health treatment
Apr 16, 2025The legislation, awaiting Gov. Bob Ferguson’s signature, requires insurance companies to follow transparent criteria when making determinations about mental health and substance abuse treatments.
Hospitals wary of potential cuts to Medicaid
Apr 15, 2025Republicans in Congress want to aggressively cut the budget, and health care leaders fear they will trim Medicaid — which could devastate rural hospitals.
Military medicine cutbacks put strain on civilian health care system — as well as service members and retirees
Apr 01, 2025Naval Hospital Bremerton offers fewer services than it did just a few years ago, forcing many patients into the overburdened civilian system.
Kitsap County clinic reports results from using TMS therapy to treat depression
Mar 20, 2025TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in regions of the brain that typically have decreased activity when a patient has depression.
Fitness program for those with chronic illnesses grows, thanks to a grant from Franciscan
Mar 13, 2025A Virginia Mason Franciscan Health grant will help boost access to a YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap program that improves health for people facing diabetes, arthritis and other chronic illnesses.