Alliance Blog

Dr. Jonathan Sugarman, a dedicated advocate for improving health care quality in the state of Washington, passed away earlier this month during an expedition on Mt. Everest.   Throughout his long and impactful career, Dr. Sugarman served for two decades as the president and CEO of Qualis Health, now known as Comagine, driving positive change in ...

SEATTLE – The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit representing hundreds of the nation’s most influential employers and purchasers of health care, driven in Washington State by the Washington Health Alliance, announced the new spring 2023 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Hospitals earn an “A”,“B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” Hospital Safety Grade reflecting how well they protect ...

For National STI Awareness month, the Washington Health Alliance is drawing attention to the low rates of chlamydia screenings in primary care settings. Our latest data shows that 6 in 10 commercially insured women age 16 to 24 are not getting screened.   Focus has been put on the spread of sexually transmitted infections throughout ...

For colorectal cancer, preventative screenings should be easy, affordable, and accessible but on average in Washington state, roughly 4 out of 10 commercially-insured individuals are not receiving these tests. That gap worsens for those covered by Medicaid, Alliance data shows.   In recognition of colorectal cancer awareness month, the Washington Health Alliance wants to draw ...

Earlier this month, the Alliance hosted a webinar to highlight the latest insights from its 17th Community Checkup report with emphasis on a new tool that shows how someone’s advantage or disadvantage can directly impact the quality of care they receive across Washington state. This new report, released on March 7, included the most expansive ...

The health of all Washingtonians has been a driving force behind the Washington Health Alliance since we expanded beyond the Puget Sound in 2013.  Now, we plan to increase our efforts on driving equity in health care across our state. There cannot be quality in health care without first addressing equity.   We’ve long known ...

When asked for bold steps in 2023 during State of Reform’s Washington Health Policy conference, Alliance Executive Director Dr. Drew Oliveira said it comes down to pushing outside the status quo.   “We are in Seattle where everyone tries to play nice – play nice in the sandbox, be friendly.  everyone needs to be a little ...

As we round out 2022, the Washington Health Alliance remains grateful for member and community support that has empowered us to develop new, innovative reports, bring organizations and individuals together on crucial healthcare issues, and drive change toward better health for all Washingtonians.   While the Alliance staff has accomplished much in the past year, projects ...

Last week, we attended the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions annual conference in Washington, DC.  The National Alliance brings together 45 coalitions from around the country to address topics of concern for everyone.  Most of these coalitions are purchaser-based ranging from non-profits, like WHA, to cooperatives and for-profit organizations.  This year was no different ...

Equitable access to high-value, appropriate care is core to the mission of the Washington Health Alliance and its 185 multi-stakeholder member organizations. However, a September ruling from a federal judge in Texas on a lawsuit attacking the Affordable Care Act may erode the progress our health care system has made toward that goal. We are ...