In this issue

• Washington lawmakers pass major health care legislation
• Washington leads nation in long-term care benefit
• BHT awarded $50K trauma informed grant

Connections

Events

• WSHA Learning Collaborative: Falls Data Stratification webinar
  May 24 | 11 a.m. to noon
  Register for this webinar.

• WSHA Learning Collaborative:
  Person & Family Engagement and Falls #2 webinar
  May 28 | 11 a.m. to noon
  Register for this webinar.

• Early Warning System webinar series
  Last Friday of each month, May 31 to July 25
  Check listing on Health systems transformation calendar.

• Buprenorphine waiver trainings 
  May 18 in Colville
  May 31 in Spokane

• Washington Behavioral Healthcare Conference
  June 13-14
  Vancouver, WA
  Info & registration

• GCACH Regional Summit on opioid use disorder & trauma informed care
  June 19-21
  Yakima, WA
  For more information, contact Diane Halo.

• Healthier Washington Quarterly Webinar Series: an overview of the Clinical Data Repository
  Aug. 13 | Noon to 1 p.m. 
  Register for this webinar.

Resources

• Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) earn incentives for milestone achievement

• Sharing substance use disorder information: a guide for Washington State 

Subscribe to the Foundational Community Supports newsletter.

• Check the Health systems transformation calendar for meeting, events, and conferences.

Follow the HCA blog.

Washington lawmakers pass major health care legislation

Governor Inslee and legislators celebrate the end of the 2019 legislative session.

Washington's 2019 legislative session ended on time, and produced significant progress on health care.

Legislative highlights:

• Integration of behavioral and primary health care.

Read the synopsis on the Governor's blog.

Indian Health Improvement Act tackles historic inequities

Governor Inslee signs into law the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act.

Washington leads nation in long-term care benefit

A recent Washington Post story reported Washington is the first state in the nation to establish a program to help offset the costs of long-term care.

Governor Jay Inslee said the new law would benefit people "when the time comes to face the fact that daily living presents some challenges."  

“This is going to make sure that help is there without bankrupting your family," Inslee said.

The Long-term Services and Supports Trust Program will serve the state's aging population. The goal is to provide long-term care assistance and reduce costs for family caregivers and the state.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is one of several agencies involved. HCA’s role includes updating provider payment systems and ensuring program eligibility and accountability. HCA will serve on the Long-Term Services and Support Trust Commission, which will make policy recommendations related to the program.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, listens to debate on the House floor at the Capitol in Olympia (Ted S. Warren/Associated Press)

BHT awarded $50K trauma informed grant

Congratulations to Better Health Together (BHT), which received a $50,000 grant to implement a trauma informed approach into their Learning Cohort Training series. 

BHT is the Accountable Community of Health for Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties.

Read the full story.