Hospital Policies

Access to Care

In accordance with 2SSB 5602 (PDF) (Laws of 2019) and WAC 246-320-141(6), the Department of Health (department) posts hospitals' policies related to access to care. These policies are in the table below. By posting these policies, the department makes no statement as to the content of these policies.

2SSB 5602 (PDF) (Laws of 2019) and WAC 246-320-141(6) require hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, and reproductive health. WAC 246-320-141(6) also requires hospitals to submit policies about end-of-life care. These requirements do not apply to private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

Submit hospital access to care policies to HospitalPolicies@doh.wa.gov.

2SSB 5602 (PDF) (Laws of 2019) requires hospitals to complete and submit to the department a reproductive health services form by September 1, 2019. The purpose of this form is to provide the public with specific information about which reproductive health services are and are not generally available at each hospital. Instructions for submitting the form:

  • Download the fillable Reproductive Health Services form (PDF)
  • Complete the form:
    • Option 1: download and print PDF form, complete relevant sections by hand, scan completed form into a new PDF.
    • Option 2: download and open PDF, complete relevant fillable sections, save as new PDF.

Submit completed PDF form to HospitalPolicies@doh.wa.gov.

Charity Care

RCW 70.170.060 and WAC 246-453-070 require hospitals to submit charity care policies, procedures and sliding fee schedules to the department for review and approval. The following table contains the approved charity care policies currently on file.

Submit charity care policies to CharityCare@doh.wa.gov.

Nurse Staffing

ESHB 1714 passed in 2017 (PDF) to amend RCW 70.41.420, requiring hospitals to submit their nurse staffing plans to the department beginning January 1, 2019, and on an annual basis thereafter. Hospitals must also submit any nurse staffing plans that are updated throughout the year. The department interprets “annual basis” as twelve months from the last submitted plan. The department posts the nurse staffing plans it has received in the table below. By posting these nurse staffing plans, the department makes no statement as to the content of these plans.

The change to RCW 70.41.420 requiring acute care hospitals to submit their nurse staffing plans does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322), and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

See the nurse staffing webpage for information on how to submit nurse staffing plans.

Nurse staffing report

House Bill 1714 directed the department to submit a Nurse Staffing Report (PDF) to the legislature by December 31, 2020, that addresses the number of nurse staffing complaints received, the status of those complaints, the number of investigations conducted, the costs associated with the complaint investigations, projections for the effect on hospital fees over the next four years, and recommendations for any needed statutory changes. The recommendations for statutory changes were developed jointly by the department, the hospital and nursing associations, and the two labor unions.

Hospital Policies

Hospital City Sort descending County Policies
Harbor Regional Health Aberdeen Grays Harbor
Island Hospital Anacortes Skagit
Skagit Regional Health Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington Snohomish
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Auburn King
Overlake Hospital Medical Center Bellevue King
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Bellingham Whatcom
Three Rivers Hospital Brewster Okanogan
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St Anne Hospital Burien King
Regional Hospital for Respiratory and Complex Care Burien King
Acadia Cascade Behavioral Health Burien King

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated January 2014
  • End of Life
  • End of Life Services Provided
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated October 2021
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia Lewis
Lake Chelan Community Hospital Chelan Chelan
Providence St. Joseph's Hospital Chewelah Stevens
Tri-State Memorial Hospital Clarkston Asotin

This hospital does not have policies on reproductive health. Contact the hospital with questions.

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center Colfax Whitman
Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville Stevens
WhidbeyHealth Coupeville Island
MultiCare Covington Medical Center Covington King
Lincoln Hospital Davenport Lincoln
Dayton General Hospital Dayton Columbia
Providence Swedish Edmonds Edmonds Snohomish
Kittitas Valley Healthcare Ellensburg Kittitas
Summit Pacific Medical Center Elma Grays Harbor
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw King
Columbia Basin Hospital Ephrata Grant
Providence Everett Regional Medical Center Everett Snohomish
BHC Fairfax Hospital North Everett Snohomish

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated July 2023
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Francis Hospital Federal Way King
Forks Community Hospital Forks Clallam
PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Friday Harbor San Juan
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor Pierce
Klickitat Valley Health Goldendale Klickitat

This hospital does not have policies on reproductive health. Contact the hospital with questions.

Coulee Medical Center Grand Coulee Grant
Ocean Beach Hospital Ilwaco Pacific
Providence Swedish Medical Center – Issaquah Issaquah King
Lifepoint Trios Kennewick Benton
BHC Fairfax Hospital Kirkland King

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
EvergreenHealth Medical Center Kirkland King
US HealthVest South Sound Behavioral Health Lacey Thurston

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated February 2023
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Clare Hospital Lakewood Pierce
Cascade Medical Center Leavenworth Chelan
PeaceHealth St John Medical Center Longview Cowlitz
US HealthVest Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital Marysville Snohomish

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated May 2022
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
EvergreenHealth Monroe (formerly Valley General Hospital) Monroe Snohomish
BHC Fairfax Hospital Monroe Monroe Snohomish

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Arbor Health (formerly Morton General Hospital) Morton Lewis
Samaritan Healthcare Moses Lake Grant
Skagit Regional Health Mount Vernon Skagit
Newport Hospital and Health Services Newport Pend Oreille
Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center Odessa Lincoln
MultiCare Capital Medical Center Olympia Thurston
Providence St. Peter Hospital Olympia Thurston
Mid-Valley Hospital Omak Okanogan
Othello Community Hospital Othello Adams
Lifepoint Lourdes Medical Center Pasco Franklin
Garfield County Memorial Hospital Pomeroy Garfield
Olympic Medical Center Port Angeles Clallam
Jefferson Healthcare Port Townsend Jefferson
Prosser Memorial Hospital Prosser Benton
Pullman Regional Hospital Pullman Whitman
MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital Puyallup Pierce
Quincy Valley Hospital Quincy Grant
UW Medicine/Valley Medical Center Renton King
Ferry County Memorial Hospital Republic Ferry
Lifepoint Lourdes Counseling Center Richland Benton

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated October 2018
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated May 2022
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Providence Kadlec Medical Center Richland Benton
East Adams Rural Hospital Ritzville Adams
UW Medicine/Harborview Medical Center Seattle King
UW Medicine/UW Medical Center Seattle King
Kindred Hospital Seattle Seattle King

This hospital does not have policies on reproductive health. Contact the hospital with questions.

MultiCare Navos Seattle King

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated December 2023
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated September 2021
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Providence Swedish Medical Center – First Hill/Ballard Seattle King
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Care (formerly Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) Seattle King
Providence Swedish Medical Center – Cherry Hill Seattle King
Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle King
Kaiser Permanente Central Seattle King
Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle King
PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Sedro-Woolley Skagit
Mason General Hospital Shelton Mason
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Michael Medical Center Silverdale Kitsap
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Snoqualmie King
Willapa Harbor Hospital South Bend Pacific
Providence St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute Spokane Spokane
Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane Spokane
MultiCare Deaconess Hospital Spokane Spokane
MultiCare Valley Hospital Spokane Spokane
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital Spokane Spokane
Inland Northwest Behavioral Health Spokane Spokane

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated July 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated October 2022
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Shriner's Hospital for Children – Spokane Spokane Spokane

This hospital does not have policies on reproductive health. Contact the hospital with questions.

Astria Sunnyside Hospital Sunnyside Yakima
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Rehabilitation Hospital Tacoma Pierce
Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital Tacoma Pierce

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Joseph Medical Center Tacoma Pierce
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Tacoma Pierce
MultiCare Tacoma General/Allenmore Hospital Tacoma Pierce
North Valley Hospital Tonasket Okanogan
Astria Toppenish Hospital Toppenish Yakima
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Vancouver Clark
Springstone Rainier Springs Vancouver Clark

The change to WAC 246-320-141 requiring hospitals to submit policies about admission, nondiscrimination, end-of-life care and reproductive health does not include private psychiatric and alcoholism hospitals (WAC 246-322) and private alcohol and chemical dependency hospitals (WAC 246-324).

  • Admissions
  • Charity Care - last updated October 2022
  • End of Life
  • Non-discrimination
  • Nurse Staffing - last updated January 2023
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services Provided
Legacy Health System Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver Clark
Providence St. Mary Medical Center Walla Walla Walla Walla
Confluence Health Hospital Wenatchee Chelan
Skyline Hospital White Salmon Klickitat
Astria Regional Medical Center (formerly Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center) Yakima Yakima
MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital Yakima Yakima