Franciscan Health System has renewed its agreement with UnitedHealthcare, which now includes St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor.
 
The agreement provides UnitedHealthcare commercial and Medicare health plan participants continued in-network access to Franciscan Health System's facilities.

Washington will receive nearly $100,000, to be split between the state's general fund and Medicaid program, from a national settlement with drug maker Alpharma.

Washington joined other states and the federal government to reach an agreement with Alpharma Inc., settling allegations that the company made false or fraudulent claims about Kadian, a morphine-based pain medication.

Jasmine Smith has joined the culinary team at Snuffin's Catering. She is a 2008 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Greystone, Calif., and studied under Thomas Keller at the French Laundry Restaurant in Yountville. Smith has held positions at Peju Winery and Pana Vino Catering, Napa Valley.

Heather Hokanson has joined the staff of Sound Family Medicine at the Hartland Clinic. The Bonney Lake native will provide family care with an emphasis on women's health and obstetrics. Hokanson is board certified as an advanced nurse practitioner in family medicine and has a master's degree in family practice from Pacific Lutheran University.

The license of physician Sarah S. Reade has been revoked by the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the Department of Health, and she can no longer practice medicine in Washington.

The commission suspended Reade's license in January. She waived her right to a hearing to contest the charges. The commission revoked her license March 5.

Donella S. Adrian PA-C has joined Cascade Eye & Skin Centers. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound and her master's degree from Barry University's physician assistant program in North Miami Beach, Fla.  She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.

Nikki Box joined HomeStreet Bank as a mortgage loan officer at the Lilly Road branch in Olympia.

Walgreens has given notice to the state that its pharmacies across Washington will continue filling Medicaid prescriptions for current patients, but effective April 16 they will not accept new Medicaid patients.
 
The company, which operates 121 pharmacies in Washington, originally planned to stop filling Medicaid prescriptions during February at 64 of its stores across the state because of continued reduction in reimbursement under the state's program. That decision was delayed while negotiations continued.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities has awarded a three year endorsement to Providence St. Peter Hospital's Stroke Specialty Program.

This achievement distinguishes Providence St. Peter Hospital's Stroke Specialty Program as the only endorsed stroke treatment services available in the South Puget Sound.

After losing an appeal of its license revocation, Bel Air of Tacoma has decided to close.

The Department of Social and Health Services revoked the nursing home's license on Feb. 19, based on significant, on-going regulatory violations that included issues such as infection control, pressure sores and administration of the facility.

Construction of the Center for Health Sciences at the University of Puget Sound will begin in May. The 42,500-square-foot interdisciplinary center is expected to open in time for the fall 2011 school semester.

Key features of the center include outpatient clinics for the 300 patients referred for occupational and physical therapy services each year by local physicians. A 6,000-square-foot outdoor mobility park will allow patients to be assessed and rehabilitated in spaces fitted with ramps, curbs, stairs and other potential barriers. An indoor simulated apartment will give patients a place to practice the activities of daily living.

After a slow start during January, chief executive officer departures surged in February to a 17-month high of 132, 48 percent more than the 89 CEO changes announced a month earlier, according to the latest report about chief executive turnover from global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Last month's total was 61 percent higher than the 82 CEO changes recorded during February 2009. It is highest monthly total since 140 chief executives vacated their offices during September 2008, and may mark the beginning of an upturn in CEO turnover as companies shift their focus from survival to growth.

The Mason General Hospital Foundation is seeking nominations for individuals to be honored at its 13th annual American Business Women's Day Luncheon.

Every year, the foundation honors three outstanding businesswomen who are or were successful in their occupations, work or have worked in Mason County, and are active and volunteer in their community.

Applications for open positions on the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission are being accepted through the end of March. State health officials are especially interested in recruiting applicants for the open public member position.

In addition to recruiting a member of the general public, the state Department of Health is accepting applications for three positions to be filled by nurses.

On the heels of the first month of positive job numbers in more than a year, a new job-vacancy report provides further evidence that Washington's economic outlook may be brightening.

Job openings fell an estimated 2 percent between spring 2009 and fall 2009, according to Employment Security's Fall 2009 Washington Job-Vacancy Survey.

In an effort to counter consumer fraud, and to give Washington residents a way to report crooked businesses, the Department of Revenue, Department of Labor and Industries and several other agencies have established www.suspectfraud.com, which allows consumers to easily check to see if a business is registered before they sign on the dotted line.

The site also allows consumers to report cases of suspected fraud.

Find out who is "walking the talk"and rising to the top by supporting employee health and wellness programs and doing their part in health care awareness.

Eight WorkWell designation awards will be presented during the fourth annual Healthy Breakfast Showcase, scheduled for 7:30 to 10 a.m. March 23 at the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway, Tacoma.

Chris Paddison has joined Sound Physicians as chief operating officer. He has more than 25 years of health car management experience, including serving as vice president and global leader of the pharmaceutical and health care practice at A. T. Kearney, president of Essilor Laboratories of America and co-leader of the U.S. health care practice at McKinsey & Co. Paddison has an undergraduate degree from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Misao Thompson of Strader Hallett & Co. P.S. Certified Public Accountants has earned her CPA certification and licensing. She primarily works with small businesses in helping them with their computerized accounting systems, including Quick Books, income taxes and payroll tax preparation.

Steven McCarty has joined Sound Physicians as general counsel. He previously was vice president, legal counsel with Catholic Health Initiatives. Prior to CHI, McCarty also practiced law with Jones Day. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of Notre Dame, and his jurist doctorate degree from Capital University Law School.

Laura Hershkowitz D.O. has joined MultiCare Health System. She is a board-certified neurologist and neurophysiologist with special qualifications in epilepsy. Hershkowitz received her medical training at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to joining MultiCare, Hershkowitz served for more than a decade as a regional epileptologist and the director of neurophysiology at Hamot Medical Center and Hamot Neuroscience Institute in Erie, Pa.

Special prescription pads intended to increase patient safety and stop people from stealing or altering existing prescriptions will soon be required in Washington. With the deadline approaching, state health officials advise prescribers to order tamper-resistant supplies now.

All health care providers who write prescriptions in Washington will have to use tamper-resistant prescription pad paper under a law that goes into effect July 1. The law says that all prescription paper or pads must have the state Board of Pharmacy approval seal.

St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor will mark its one-year anniversary on March 17 with a major award for patient satisfaction.
 
The Franciscan Health System hospital has earned the "Excellence through Insight Award" from HealthStream Research. The 80-bed community hospital has one of the highest patient-satisfaction ratings among all 1,100 HealthStream clients in the United States.

MultiCare Health System has lifted the visitation restrictions put in place to protect patients and their families during flu season.
 
As of today, patients in the birthing centers at Tacoma General and Good Samaritan hospitals, at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center and elsewhere at MultiCare may receive visitors in their hospital rooms.