Tag: Washington State
Stakeholders rally to end sales tax
April 21, 2023HME News Staff
OLYMPIA, Wash. – After a small hiccup, a bill that exempts “mobility enhancing equipment for a complex needs patient” from the state sales tax passed the state legislature in April and was signed by the governor in May.
S.B. 5218, sponsored by Sens. Mike Padden, R-4th district, Mark Mullet, D-5th district, and Nikki Torres, R-15th district, was passed unanimously in the state Senate and House.
“Our lobbyist Abby Moore reports that there was a lot of support...
Washington state passes CRT exemption
April 20, 2023HME News Staff
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Senate has passed S.B. 5218, a bill to create a sales and use tax exemption for complex rehab technology, 96-0. The bill previously passed the Washington State House 48-0. HME providers and advocates testified in favor of the bill at a Feb. 7 Senate Ways & Means Committee hearing. Pacific Association of Medical Equipment Services (PAMES) Executive Director Barb Stockert, who coordinated the multi-holder advocacy effort, also credited the leadership efforts...
Washington state: Medicaid restricts prescriptions
January 24, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Only physicians can now order medical equipment for Medicaid recipients, says the Health Care Authority in Washington state.
Advanced nurse practitioners (ARNPs) or physician assistants (PAs) ordering medical equipment must have a physician's signature on their requested orders, the Medicaid director says.
“I wouldn't say the majority of the prescriptions we receive are from ARNPs or NPs, but there are certain clinics where they are the primary practitioners,”...
NSM debuts in Washington state
May 16, 2017HME News Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility announced two acquisitions on May 12, including its first in Washington state.
NSM has acquired Dependable Medical Equipment in Seattle, adding four assistive technology professionals (ATPs) and one rehab technology supplier (RTS) to its roster.
“National Seating & Mobility is committed to expanding our reach to those in need of mobility and accessibility solutions,” said Bill Mixon, CEO. “We look forward to partnering with the...
Consumers rock CELA
April 24, 2012Elizabeth Deprey
I followed CELA's New York team around Capitol Hill last week as they visited more than 25 congressional offices. I think I hit about 8-10 of those as I followed different people around during the day.
One of the New York advocates was Paul Tobin, a consumer and the president and CEO of United Spinal. (He'll be back on the Hill in June for his organization's Roll on Capitol Hill, promoting HR 4378 again and other bills that would help United Spinal members.)
Tobin is living proof...
Washington state
March 3, 2010Liz Beaulieu, Editor
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Pacific Association for Medical Equipment Services (PAMES) has taken a fresh approach to fighting an 8.6% sales tax, on average, for durable medical equipment.
In January, companion bills were introduced in the state Senate and House of Representatives that would enforce a law that requires insurers to include the sales tax for DME as a separate line item in their payment plans.
"In essence, what's happening now is they're not paying it," said Bob McLellan, president...