Washington Health Foundation Washington Hospital Services Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts Health Information Program Weekly Archives Vol. WSHA worked against the fee increase throughout the legislative session.
Hospitals are willing to pay their fair share for the operation of the hospital licensing program.
WSHA did not oppose a 30 percent fee increase three years ago because additional surveyors were needed to implement the new hospital licensing rules. Unfortunately, those funds were diverted to other uses. Instead of increasing surveyors, the funds were used to add another layer of management, and the number of hospitals surveyed each year decreased. Hospitals should not pay increased hospital licensing fees unless they are clearly justified by increased workload, enhanced public safety, or other necessary costs. In addition, this fee increase is more than DOH originally proposed.