New resources available

Healthier Washington has posted new resources about the Medicaid Transformation Demonstration on our website. These include:

• Quarterly Report: A summary of Demonstration activities from January 9 through March 31.
• Initiative 1 Glossary: A guide to Initiative 1-related words and phrases, with definitions and links to more information.
• Initiative 1 FAQs: Answers to frequently asked questions about Initiative 1. This document will be updated throughout the duration of the Demonstration.

Read the full message from Healthier Washington here>>>

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that Lou McDermott will serve as interim director of the Washington State Health Care Authority. He replaces Dorothy Frost Teeter, who announced her departure from the agency in May after leading it for four years.

“Lou has a strong record of service and results within state government. His experience will make him a great asset to HCA in this time of change,” Inslee said. “I am grateful to Dorothy for her leadership during a tumultuous time in health care.”

McDermott has been director of the HCA’s Public Employees Benefits (PEB) Division since 2012. He is responsible for the public employee insurance benefit programs that cover 370,000 public employees and retirees. McDermott also leads the state’s ambitious and innovative plan to enhance Washington’s approach to worksite wellness and focus on health care payment reform.

Read more at hca.wa.gov >>>

On June 20, from noon to 1 p.m., Healthier Washington will host a webinar to update the public about how Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) will choose and implement health improvement projects under Initiative 1 of the Medicaid Transformation Demonstration.
The webinar will provide an overview of a draft document, called the Project Plan Template, which will guide ACHs in submitting their health improvement plans to the state. The Project Plan Template will be available on the Healthier Washington website beginning June 15. A public comment period on the Project Plan Template will begin after the webinar and close on June 30.

Read more from Healthier Washington>>>

All nine Accountable Communities of Health (ACH) have achieved a critical milestone in the Medicaid Transformation Project Demonstration – Phase 1 Certification. Two ACHs require follow-up documentation before Phase 1 funding will be released.

Success was based on ACHs providing evidence of progress in several critical areas, including:

• Theory of action and alignment strategy
• Governance and organizational structure
• Tribal engagement and collaboration
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Budget and funds flow
• Clinical capacity and engagement

Read more from Healthier Washington>>>