Hospitals provide accommodation and services to people who need care for 24 hours or more. The services may include observing, diagnosing and treating people suffering from illness or injury.
Three types of hospitals are licensed in Washington State:
Acute Care Hospital | Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Hospitals | Private Psychiatric Hospitals
We can help you
File a complaint | Find information about federal Medicare | Verify a facility license
Current Topics
- New: COVID Waiver offboarding. On July 29, 2022, the governor rescinded Proclamation 20-36 regarding the COVID-19 waivers effective October 27, 2022. See our frequently asked questions for more information (PDF) and our COVID-19 Waiver Offboarding PowerPoint slides (PDF).
- New – Notice of Emergency Rule filing. The Department of Health (department) adopted an emergency rule (PDF) clarifying that all health care facilities licensed by the department must comply with state and federal statutes, administrative rules, lawful orders, and other legal requirements relating to the operation of the facility and the control or prevention of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including orders issued by the Governor, by the Secretary of Health, by a local board of health, and by a local health officer. The new rule applies to all health care facilities licensed by the department, which includes: Acute Care Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Facilities, Behavioral Health Agencies, Birthing Centers, In-Home Services Agencies, Medical Test Sites, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Residential Treatment Facilities.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the guidelines for health care worker Tuberculosis screening. The Department of Health has issued policy statement allowing hospitals to implement these updated guidelines (PDF).
- Effective October 1, 2019, initial and renewal licensing fees for acute care, psychiatric, and chemical dependency hospitals will increase. More information about this topic is in the Hospital Fee Issue Brief (PDF) and Hospital Fee Cost Drivers document (PDF).
- Effective January 1, 2019, the legislature passed ESSB 5084 (PDF), requiring health care facilities to share breast density classification information with mammography patients. This notice (PDF) provides important information about this new law. If you have any questions regarding the new law or the linked notice, contact the osteopathic program.
- In 2017, the legislature passed ESHB 1714 regarding nurse staffing committee practices at hospitals. The law requires hospitals to submit their nurse staffing plans to the Department of Health by January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter. Details of the requirements are in RCW 70.41.420. A new nurse staffing webpage includes information on how to submit your nurse staffing plans to us. To sign up for ongoing updates, select the green “Subscribe” button at the bottom of the page. Further guidance developed by the Nurse Staffing Coalition is also online.
- Influenza frequently asked questions (updated November 21, 2017)