Unveiling WA Hospital Prices: How Levels Vary Statewide | |
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Earlier this month, the Alliance released its first-ever report on hospital pricing levels in Washington state.
The analysis, leveraging data from 2.2 million commercially insured lives across the state, reveals the uneven landscape of hospital pricing in Washington. We found hospital price levels for commercial insurance were anywhere from 150% to 500% more than Medicare rates. On average, commercial insurance pays 288% of what Medicare pays.
What does this mean? For services provided in hospitals in Washington, when Medicare pays $1, commercial insurance pays an average of $2.88.
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Washington Ranked 25th Nationally for Hospital Safety
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit representing hundreds of the nation’s most influential employers and purchasers of health care, and Washington Health Alliance today announced the spring 2024 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades.
In this latest round of grading, Washington state remained 25th overall for percentage of hospitals with an “A” grade in safety.
Learn more.
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Role of Biomarkers in Personalized Medicine | |
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Interested in learning more about the role of genetic biomarkers in personalized medicine? The Washington Health Alliance hosted a webinar in May 2024 to provide actionable insights.
Rebecca (Becki) Hulinsky, MS, Director of Genomics Strategy and Solutions for Health Plans at Quest Diagnostics, leads a discussion on how biomarkers and genetic testing are being used in personalized medicine.
Learn more.
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Interested in more on hospital pricing? Join our June 6 event | |
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Parkview Event Space, 8th Ave. North in Seattle from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 6
This event is free for Alliance members and $35 for non-members.
Private insurance spending per member grew by 61.6% from 2008 to 2022. How much of this growth is driven by disproportionate hospital prices compared to Medicare rates?
Gain fresh insights into hospital pricing and the cost of care from Alliance leadership and expert panelists following the release of our report: Washington’s Uneven Hospital Landscape: How Price Levels Vary Statewide.
Attendees will come away with:
- Opportunities to manage inpatient/outpatient spending.
- Insights into and recommendations for risk management of high-cost claims including cell & gene therapy.
- How shifting spend to primary care can improve your population’s health outcomes.
- Where employers are investing in their healthcare benefits and the return they’re receiving.
While the event will be held in person in Seattle, a virtual option is available.
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Speakers include:
- Victoria Alegria, APRN, MSN-FNP, Medical Director for the US Medical Affairs CAR-T Team at Johnson & Johnson
- Rodney Anderson, MD, President/CEO, Family Care Network
- Marilyn Bartlett, Senior Policy Fellow, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)
- Sue Birch, Director, WA Health Care Authority
- Emily Brice, JD, Deputy Director at NorthwestHealth Law Advocates (NoHLA)
- Edwin Carmack, MD, Hospitalist and Medical Director, Confluence Health
- Jeremy Chrisman, DO, MBA, Chief Transformation Officer, Vancouver Clinic
- Will Fox, FSA, MAAA, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman MedInsight
- Kirby Eng, RPh, Chief Clinical Officer, OutcomeRx
- Christopher F. Koller, President, Milbank Memorial Fund
- Drew Oliveira, MD, MHA, Executive Director, WHA
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Register now | IBI Regional Event in Seattle
Join the Integrated Benefits Institute on Thursday, June 20 for a compelling discussion around the impact of childhood disabilities on caregivers and the effect on workplace productivity.
Register here.
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Our members and supporters can be the best ambassadors for our work. If you know someone who would like to learn more about membership in the Alliance, contact Denise Giambalvo, Director of Member Engagement & Business Strategy, at dgiambalvo@wahealthalliance.org. | | | | |
