A Thurston County Superior Court judge in Washington has ruled that the state's limit of three "non-emergency" visits to emergency rooms per year for Medicaid enrollees is invalid, and the policy cannot be implemented until formal rulemaking is complete, according to a Washington State Medical Association news release.
Judge Paula Casey ruled in favor of the WSMA, the Washington State Hospital Association and two other groups who filed the lawsuit. The law was expected to save the state $35 million, but hospitals and physicians argued that the rule could hurt patients as they wait until their conditions require more costly emergency medical attention. The "non-emergency" classifications in the law include more than 700 diagnoses, such as chest pain, miscarriage and breathing problems.
Washington will now go through a formal rule-making process that will include public hearings and public comments before the ER-limit policy can be implemented.
Judge Paula Casey ruled in favor of the WSMA, the Washington State Hospital Association and two other groups who filed the lawsuit. The law was expected to save the state $35 million, but hospitals and physicians argued that the rule could hurt patients as they wait until their conditions require more costly emergency medical attention. The "non-emergency" classifications in the law include more than 700 diagnoses, such as chest pain, miscarriage and breathing problems.
Washington will now go through a formal rule-making process that will include public hearings and public comments before the ER-limit policy can be implemented.
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