| covid_19_clinical_and_professional_updates | COVID-19 Clinical and Professional Updates | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20201125/covid_19_clinical_and_professional_updates | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 25, 2020</h5>
<h2>COVID-19 Clinical and Professional Updates</h2>
<p>Enrolling in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, how to request doses of bamlanivimab, a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy, for your practice, and a new COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds Q&amp;A session - these updates and more, below.</p>
<h3>Enroll your practice in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program </h3>
<p>The WSMA advises practices and clinics to not delay enrolling in the Washington State Department of Health's <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/HealthcareProviders/VaccineInformationforHealthcareProviders">COVID-19 Vaccination Program</a>. To enroll your practice or facility, you must complete the <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVID-19-Provider-Enrollment-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">provider inquiry form</a>. The DOH has shared a <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVID-19-Provider-Enrollment-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">COVID-19 provider agreement enrollment guide</a> to help guide physicians and providers through the enrollment process, as well as a <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/PreparationChecklist_COVID19VaccineProvider.pdf" target="_blank">provider preparation checklist</a>. For questions about the enrollment process or for technical assistance, please contact <a href="mailto:COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov">COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov</a>.</p>
<p>As a benefit of your membership, you may also contact the WSMA's policy team with questions or support on the state's rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. Email <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">policy@wsma.org</a> with your questions.</p>
<p>According to a DOH briefing on Wednesday, facilities enrolled by Dec. 6 will be eligible to receive doses from the initial allotment, expected potentially as early as mid-December.</p>
<h3>COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment available for practices</h3>
<p>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-monoclonal-antibody-treatment-covid-19">announced earlier this month</a> it issued an emergency use authorization for a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy, bamlanivimab, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adult and pediatric patients. While initial doses were available only to hospitals, beginning this week, any health care facility in the state will be eligible to receive the medication from the Washington State Department of Health. To determine if your facility meets the eligibility requirements to receive the medication, review the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/143603/download">FDA provider fact sheet</a>. Facilities interested in receiving bamlanivimab from DOH should contact Jennifer Dixon at <a href="mailto:Jennifer.dixon@doh.wa.gov">Jennifer.dixon@doh.wa.gov</a>.</p>
<p>From information supplied by the DOH, if the demand for the medication from health care facilities in Washington exceeds the amount allocated to the state, the agency will allocate doses proportionally to facilities based on the population of the county. Doses will also be set aside for tribal clinics. Doses distributed through the government will be provided free of charge.</p>
<p>For more information on the use of bamlanivimab in Washington state, <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/BamlanivimabUseinWA.pdf" target="_blank">review this DOH one pager</a>.</p>
<h3>New WSMA Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 Testing, Treatment, Lasting Impact, and Vaccines</h3>
<p>Don't miss the next installment of our COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds series on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from noon - 1 p.m. The webinar will feature physician experts who will answer your questions about the evolution of COVID-19, management of COVID-19 patients, vaccines, and our state's response to the pandemic. This session is free for members - a benefit of your membership in the WSMA.</p>
<p>Our panelists for the session include:</p>
<ul>
<li>SheAnne Allen, MPH, MCHES, COVID-19 vaccine director and deputy PCH response director, Office of Immunization and Child Profile, Washington State Department of Health.</li>
<li>Jason Goldman, MD, MPH, infectious disease and organ transplant, Swedish Medical Center.</li>
<li>Lisa Jackson, MD, MPH, senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute.</li>
<li>Kathy Lofy, MD, state health officer and chief science officer, Washington State Department of Health.</li>
<li>Francis Riedo, MD, medical director of infection control, EvergreenHealth.</li>
<li>Yuan-Po Tu, MD, medical director of anticoagulation clinic, Epic provider efficiency, and flu services, The Everett Clinic.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A5eSFS2gSdCoCNjQ4Yg4Yw">Register online for this session - it's free and easy</a>. This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Creditâ„¢</em>. WSMA member can access previous Grand Rounds sessions on our <a href="[@]WSMA/Education/Webinars_OnDemand/WSMA/Resources/Practice_Management/OnDemand/Webinars_OnDemand.aspx?hkey=53a67f34-e7a8-4b79-9463-6f51e1418ff5">On Demand Webinars page</a> - another benefit of your membership in the WSMA.</p>
<h3>DOH recruiting contact tracers and case investigators</h3>
<p>The Washington COVID-19 Contact Tracing Partnership, the coordinating body for the state's contact tracing efforts, is recruiting qualified contact tracers and case investigators. If you know someone who may be interested in this work, please download and share the <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/Newsletters/2020/WA-CCTP_CICT_Job-Description.pdf]">job description</a>. There is an emphasis on hiring persons who are fluent in Russian or Ukrainian. Spanish and Vietnamese speakers are also encouraged to apply, as well as other applicants with experience that match the skills listed in the job description.</p>
<p>The Washington State Department of Health created the Washington COVID-19 Contact Tracing Partnership to protect communities and prevent the spread of COVID-19, The goal is for the WA-CCTP to provide support to local jurisdictions conducting contact tracing work. The WSMA is participating in the partnership and sharing the physician perspective when appropriate.</p>
<p>If you have questions about the work of the WA-CCTP, don't hesitate to reach out to WSMA Policy Analyst Billie Dickinson at <a href="mailto:billie@wsma.org">billie@wsma.org</a>.</p>
</div> | 11/25/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| results_of_new_covid_19_practice_economic_impact_survey | Results of New COVID-19 Practice Economic Impact Survey | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20201125/results_of_new_covid_19_practice_economic_impact_survey | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 25, 2020</h5>
<h2>Results of New COVID-19 Practice Economic Impact Survey</h2>
<p>Results from a new round of surveying make clear the coronavirus pandemic continues to adversely impact physician practices across Washington, threatening access to patient care in communities across the state. These new data points will be key to our advocacy efforts on behalf of physician practices in the weeks and months ahead.</p>
<p>In mid-October, the WSMA sent a new economic impact survey, the third since the start of the pandemic, to approximately 5,000 independent (non-networked) physician clinics in Washington state. The results from 71 physician practices demonstrate this critical health care setting is experiencing severe economic hardship while incurring thousands of dollars in costs due to the pandemic, including outlays for telemedicine equipment and software, increased costs for PPE, and interest on loans to try to keep their practices afloat.</p>
<h3>Survey respondents</h3>
<p>Of survey respondents, 34% were solo practitioners, 40% were in practices of 2-10 physicians, and 11% were in practices of 11-20 physicians. Twelve percent of respondents represented practices of 21-100 physicians, and 3% of respondents were from practices with over 100 physicians. Most practices serve Medicaid patients (75%) and the uninsured (65%), in addition to commercial and Medicare patients.</p>
<h3>Patient volume decrease compared to pre-pandemic</h3>
<p>Of practices surveyed, 82% have seen a decrease in average weekly patient volume compared to average "pre-pandemic" weekly patient volumes in January.</p>
<p>Asked what percentage of typical revenue the patient volume decreases represent, practices answered:</p>
<ul>
<li>No decrease: 5% of practices</li>
<li>Less than 10% decrease: 5% of practices</li>
<li>11-25% decrease: 46% of practices</li>
<li>26-50% decrease: 33% of practices</li>
<li>51-75% decrease: 10% of practices</li>
</ul>
<h3>Financial impact</h3>
<p>Of practices surveyed, 28% have lost revenue up to $150,000; 42% have lost between $150,000 and $500,000; and 10% have lost over $1 million. These represent significant financial blows to practices already operating on thin margins.</p>
<p><strong>For example, 69% of practices report having eight weeks or less "cash on hand," defined as the number of days a practice could pay its operating expenses with cash available. Ideally, practices should have 18 weeks' worth. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">82% of practices indicated they would benefit from additional financial support.</span></strong></p>
<p>As a result of the pandemic, practices have also taken on additional costs for personal protective equipment, screening supplies, and cleaning services/supplies:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>"800 percent increase in cost of gloves, masks, and other PPE."</em></li>
<li><em>"Increased PPE, cleaning, and sanitizing supplies have cost an estimated additional $12,000; HVAC modification to improve filtration and ventilation cost $103,000."</em></li>
<li><em>"Increased costs up to $10,000 for supplies."</em></li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact on community</h3>
<p>The financial blow of COVID-19 extends far beyond the four walls of a physician practice, impacting the larger community in terms of reduced employment and access to healthcare services. Due to the reduction in patient volume, practices have reported taking the following measures:</p>
<ul>
<li>60% have reduced office hours.</li>
<li>54% have implemented a temporary reduction in salary.</li>
<li>39% have laid off or furloughed staff.</li>
<li>24% have implemented a hiring freeze.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Personal protective equipment/testing</h3>
<p>More than a third of practices (37%) are not able to source a continuous supply of PPE and 46% are not able to access test kits.</p>
<p>Numerous practices identified increased costs associated with PPE, both in terms of needing more supplies and those supplies coming at higher prices. This has led to the need for some practices to "aggressively reuse" PPE since the beginning of the pandemic.</p>
<h3>Telehealth</h3>
<p>Of practices surveyed, 85% are utilizing telehealth, with a majority of those have adopted telehealth during the pandemic.</p>
<p>In terms of telehealth modalities, 78% report using simultaneous audio/visual, roughly the same percentage are using audio-only telemedicine, and 29% are using e-visit platforms where patients initiate the visits using a patient portal.</p>
<p>Practices identified the following barriers to utilizing telehealth and/or increasing utilization, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Costs with offering and maintaining a telehealth platform (29%)</li>
<li>Issues with reimbursement from carriers (47%)</li>
<li>Patient comfort using technology (60%)</li>
<li>Patient broadband access (60%)</li>
<li>Uncertainty about how telehealth regulation might change after the pandemic (64%)</li>
</ul>
<h3>WSMA practice advocacy</h3>
<p>As we did with the <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Press_Release/2020/washingtons_physician_practices_in_financial_crisis_new_wsma_survey">results from our spring survey</a>, the WSMA will use the new survey data to inform our advocacy on behalf of practices with legislators, media, and other policymakers in the weeks and months ahead. As our state "eventually moves from the combat zone to recovery," as WSMA CEO Jennifer Hanscom memorably described it, your support and engagement will be crucial. If you haven't yet renewed your membership for 2021, <a href="http://www.wsma.org/renew">do so today</a>.</p>
</div> | 11/25/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| governor_taps_washington_physicians_to_serve_on_multi_state_covid_19_vaccine_work_group | Governor Taps Washington Physicians to Serve on Multi-state COVID-19 Vaccine Work Group | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20201112/governor_taps_washington_physicians_to_serve_on_multi_state_covid_19_vaccine_work_group | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 12, 2020</h5>
<h2>
Governor Taps Washington Physicians to Serve on Multi-state COVID-19 Vaccine Work Group
</h2>
<p>Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed two Washington physicians with long ties to local medical and vaccine communities to the multi-state COVID-19 vaccine work group being coordinated in conjunction with California, Oregon, and Nevada.</p>
<p>
Joining the group are:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Ed Marcuse, MD, emeritus professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. Dr. Marcuse has served as a member and chair of the U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice, and the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, among others.</li>
<li>John Dunn, MD, medical director of preventive care and clinical lead for immunization population management at Kaiser Permanente Washington. Dr. Dunn has extensive experience in developing preventive care guidelines for Kaiser Permanente and advising vaccine safety studies and is a member of the Health and Human Services National Vaccine Advisory Committee.</li>
</ul>
<p>
The COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, initially begun in California but expanded in late October to include Washington and the other western states, will review the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines when approved by the FDA. State officials believe this added layer of independent expert review will help build confidence in the vaccine.
</p>
</div> | 11/12/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |