Tag Archives: Yakima Valley

Governor signs King bill helping rural hospital in Toppenish

The future looks brighter for the hospital that serves Toppenish and much of the lower Yakima Valley after bipartisan legislation from Sen. Curtis King was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson in Yakima Friday.

The law created by Senate Bill 6194 will allow Astria Toppenish Hospital to be paid at 150 percent of the fee-for-service rate for inpatient and outpatient Medicaid services beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

“I was very pleased to see the governor sign this important legislation,” said King, R-Yakima. “The bill is critical to the future of Astria Toppenish Hospital, and vital to the needs of the citizens of the lower Yakima Valley, our Hispanic community and the Yakama Tribe. The hospital does not qualify for enhanced payments like other rural hospitals. In fact, it is one of two rural hospitals in Washington not designated as a critical-access hospital. Without the extra funding that this bill will help provide, ATH would be at risk of closing.”

The bill was co-sponsored by 15th District Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco.

The Senate unanimously approved SB 6194 on Feb 13. After the House unanimously passed an amended version of the bill on March 6, the Senate voted 49-0 on March 10 to concur with the House version, sending it to the governor.

Governor signs SB 6170

Ferguson last Friday also signed Senate Bill 6170, another measure introduced by King. The bill, which received unanimous approval by the Senate and House this year, will adjust monetary limits regarding contracting rules for state highway construction work.

“After the fast response time on emergency repair projects in December following the floods that month, many people asked what can be done to help things go faster and make things work more smoothly like they do in an emergency, and this is one of those solutions,” said King.

 

Legislature passes King bill that would help rural hospital in Toppenish

The outlook for the hospital that serves Toppenish and much of the lower Yakima Valley is brighter now that bipartisan legislation from Sen. Curtis King has won full legislative approval.

Senate Bill 5532 would provide enhanced payments to low-volume, small rural hospitals like Astria Toppenish Hospital. It specifically would require Medicaid payments for acute-care services to be made at 120% of the Medicaid fee schedule for inpatient services and 200% of the Medicaid fee schedule for outpatient services when services are provided by a hospital that meets certain requirements.

“It’s good to see the Legislature pass this important bill and send it to the governor,” said King, R-Yakima. “The bill is critical to the future of Astria Toppenish Hospital, and vital to the needs of the citizens of the lower Yakima Valley, our Hispanic community and the Yakama Tribe. Without this extra funding, the hospital is at risk of closing.”

The proposal received unanimous approval during each step through the Legislature. After the Senate originally passed SB 5532 on a 48-0 vote on March 6, the House of Representatives amended and then approved the altered proposal 98-0. The Senate today voted 48-0 to concur (or agree) with the House changes to the bill.

The House amendment would change the implementation date for increased hospital-reimbursement rates from Jan. 1, 2024, to July 1, 2024, and would make SB 5532 invalid unless it is funded in the state operating budget.

Senate passes King bill that would help rural hospital in Toppenish

A bipartisan proposal sponsored by 14th District Sen. Curtis King that would help keep the doors open at Astria Toppenish Hospital, which serves much of the lower Yakima Valley, was unanimously approved by the Senate yesterday.

Senate Bill 5532 would provide enhanced payments to low-volume, small rural hospitals like Astria Toppenish Hospital. It specifically would require Medicaid payments for acute-care services to be made at 120% of the Medicaid fee schedule for inpatient services and 200% of the Medicaid fee schedule for outpatient services when services are provided by a hospital that meets certain requirements.

“This bill is critical to this small rural hospital in the lower Yakima Valley,” said King, R-Yakima. “It is a hospital so valued and needed by the Yakama tribe, by our Hispanic community and by all of the citizens who live in the lower Yakima Valley. Without this extra funding, the hospital is at risk of closing. I’m so very glad the Senate passed this important bill.”

During the public hearing on SB 5532 in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee in February, several local people testified in support, including Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde, Dr. Raul Garcia from Astria Toppenish Hospital and Dr. Rex Quaempts, medical director of Yakima Indian Health Services.

SB 5532 now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Senate adopts King resolution to honor Yakima Health District

Members of the Washington State Senate took time Wednesday to mark the 100 years of service provided by the Yakima Health District. Senate Resolution 8654, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, was adopted unanimously.

“Back in June of 1911, the Yakima County Health District was formed to deal with a crippling outbreak of typhoid fever in the Yakima Valley,” King said. “The new agency was tasked with improving sanitation, sewage disposal and well location and construction throughout the entire county to prevent similar outbreaks in the future, and they have been doing an impressive job ever since.” Continue reading →

14th District lawmakers to host town hall meetings March 29

Sen. Curtis King and Rep. Charles Ross have scheduled a pair of town hall meetings for Saturday, March 29. The meetings will be in southeast Yakima from 10 to 11 a.m. and in West Valley from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Ross, R-Naches, and King, R-Yakima, will report to residents of the 14th Legislative District on the just-concluded 2008 legislative session, discuss other issues of concern, and take questions. Continue reading →