No one has been untouched by the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intense emotions including anxiety, anger, fear, frustration, grief, loneliness and sadness have become common since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Skagit County in March.Â
Mental health experts say those feelings were inevitable. Emotions are absolutely normal and expected during this time, Keri Waterland, director of the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery that operates under the state s Healthcare Authority, told the Skagit Valley Herald. Whatever you are feeling right now is OK, and there is nothing wrong with you.
According to weekly U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of adults in the state reporting feelings of depression and anxiety is on the rise. Dreary weather and holiday stress only compound the challenges.Â
Health proposals in Gov. Inslee’s 2021-23 budget plan Emily Boerger | Dec 21, 2020
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Gov. Jay Inslee announced his 2021-2023 budget proposals on Thursday, proposing new taxes to pay for COVID-19 related efforts and economic relief. The $57.6 billion operating budget prioritizes investments in addressing homelessness, behavioral health reform, and supporting public health systems.
To fund these various investments, the governor’s budget relies on dipping into reserves, reinvesting unused education funds, and as some expected, the introduction of a new capital gains tax. The tax would go into effect the second year of the 2021-23 biennium, and is projected to bring over $3.5 billion over the next 4 years.
Base Camp deploys rapid COVID tests for admittance into Bellingham homeless shelter
The Bellingham Herald 12/18/2020 Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Dec. 18 BELLINGHAM The operator of Base Camp is turning to rapid COVID-19 testing to help screen people who want to be admitted to the homeless shelter in Bellingham.
The shelter has been a little over half of its capacity in recent weeks, in part, because of restrictions Lighthouse Mission Ministries put into place after a COVID-19 outbreak was linked to Base Camp and Camp 210, a homeless tent encampment at City Hall and the Bellingham Public Library.
The low capacity was a concern for city of Bellingham and Whatcom County government officials, both of which have contributed funding for the shelter space to allow for social distancing during the new coronavirus pandemic.
HCA reaches 59% of payments as Value-based Purchasing in 2019 Sydney Kurle | Dec 17, 2020
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As the largest health care purchaser in Washington, the HCA says their goal is to continue to move the health care system towards VBP. Although the original goal for 2019 was to have 75 percent of payments be VBP, the HCA says they remain optimistic that they can reach their goals.
“Washington will use its position in the marketplace to drive transformation as both a first mover and market convener,” says the HCA website. “We will use purchasing power to lead by example and accelerate the adoption of value-based reimbursement and alternative payment strategies in the commercial market.”
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MARION COUNTY, W.Va. – Construction is underway on the Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital at Middletown Commons. The 19,000 square foot facility will have 10 emergency beds, 10 inpatient beds and is valued at about $20 million.
Mon Health Systems president and CEO David Goldberg has presided over the this new construction project and the expansion of services at the Fairmont Technology Park since the closure of the Fairmont Regional Hospital earlier this year.
“Because many of Marion County residents already know and trust Mon Health for their medical care, we look forward to opening this new hospital to the greater Fairmont area to keep healthcare local for our patients,” Goldberg said,” We thank the Healthcare Authority for its thorough review, analysis and approval.”