public-hearings-scheduled-for-wsma-medicaid-access-program-bills | Public Hearings Scheduled for WSMA Medicaid Access Program Bills | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/february-7/public-hearings-scheduled-for-wsma-medicaid-access-program-bills | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2025/february/medicaid-access-program-social-2025-1.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA Medicaid Access Program graphics" /></div>
<h5>Feb. 7, 2025</h5>
<h2>Public Hearings Scheduled for WSMA Medicaid Access Program Bills</h2>
<p>WSMA priority legislation establishing the <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/">Medicaid Access Program</a> are slated to receive public hearings in the House of Representatives and the Senate, the first step in the legislative process. These critical bills leverage federal funds to promote access to care for Medicaid enrollees by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1392&amp;Chamber=House&amp;Year=2025">House Bill 1392</a> by Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Capitol Hill) will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, Feb. 13. </li>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5372&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">Senate Bill 5372</a> by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) will be heard in the Senate Health &amp; Long Term Care Committee on Thursday, Feb. 20. </li>
</ul>
<p>Sharing your support for these bills with legislators is important and it's easy: </p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Send a message to legislators</strong>: On <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/share-your-story/">WSMA's Medicaid campaign website</a> there's a tool with an editable draft message that's ready to be sent to your local legislative delegation. </li>
<li><strong>Sign-in and register your support prior to the hearing</strong>: With the hearing on HB 1392 coming up next week, the legislative website allows you to register your support for bill. To do so, click <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House?selectedCommittee=31634&amp;selectedMeeting=32774">here</a>, select HB 1392, then note your position for the public record or submit written testimony. </li>
</ol>
<p>You've heard us say this before: for the Medicaid Access Program to pass into state law this year, it's going to require the support and engagement of the full physician community. Please help us start these bills off strong by ensuring legislators know that they're a priority of physicians from across the state. For fact sheets, supporting data, and other resources to help your advocacy, visit our <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/resources/">campaign website</a>. If you have questions about the Medicaid Access Program, contact WSMA government affairs director <a href="mailto:sean@wsma.org">Sean Graham</a>. </p>
</div> | 2/7/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
renew-your-participation-in-the-doh-childhood-vaccine-program-this-march-april | Renew Your Participation in the DOH Childhood Vaccine Program this March-April | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/february-7/renew-your-participation-in-the-doh-childhood-vaccine-program-this-march-april | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2025/february/child-vaccine-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Child receiving a vaccination" /></div>
<h5>Feb. 7, 2025</h5>
<h2>Renew Your Participation in the DOH Childhood Vaccine Program this March-April</h2>
<p>The Washington State Department of Health recently announced that clinics must renew their participation in the Childhood Vaccine Program between March and April of this year. DOH suggests you do the following: </p>
<ol>
<li>Ensure all thermometer calibrations are up to date. </li>
<li>Gather your practice profile data for the calendar year Jan.1-Dec. 31, 2024. Instructions for generating a VFC Profile Report in the IIS can be found in the <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/348-391-OnlineProviderEnrollmentInstr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Provider Agreement Renewal Guide</a>. </li>
<li>Ensure your primary and backup vaccine coordinators have completed the <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/3481027-ProviderTrainingInstructionsTRAIN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">new annual training requirements</a> in 2025. Primary and backup vaccine coordinators must complete this annual training requirement within the current calendar year, prior to their provider agreement renewal deadline. It is also best practice to have all staff who handle and administer vaccines complete the training, as well. </li>
</ol>
<p>Remember that training requirements have changed this year. You Call the Shots modules have been replaced by the Childhood Vaccine Program's <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/3481027-ProviderTrainingInstructionsTRAIN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">new annual Vaccine Coordinator Training</a>. </p>
<h3>Webinar covering the renewal agreement process </h3>
<p>The Washington State Department of Health will cover the renewal process in this month's Childhood Vaccine Program Training Series, Thursday, Feb. 20 at noon. Register for the webinar <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kvajAzwGT7Gftpd_3QucSA#/registration">here</a>. </p>
</div> | 2/7/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
2025-session-update-public-hearings-take-center-stage | 2025 Session Update: Public Hearings Take Center Stage | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/january-31/2025-session-update-public-hearings-take-center-stage | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2025/january/Malorie-4-HB1123-1-27-2025.png" class="pull-right" alt="Malorie Toman testifying on HB 1123 Health Carrier Reimbursement" /></div>
<h5>Jan. 31, 2025</h5>
<h2>2025 Session Update: Public Hearings Take Center Stage </h2>
<p>As the third week of the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, things are picking up in Olympia. Around 1,500 bills have been introduced on an array of topics. As is usually the case, the WSMA is tracking and engaging on about a fifth of those. Which is to say we've got our hands full! </p>
<p>The focus of the first part of session is holding public hearings in policy committees on bills. This is an opportunity for the public, state agencies, and lobbyists to provide testimony on a bill and try to shape its path through the Legislature-or in some cases to try to end the bill's path. This week, WSMA staff and leadership testified on a number of bills, including those related to international medical graduates and imposing reimbursement rate caps on hospital-based care for enrollees of state employee health plans. </p>
<p>Next week figures to be busy, too, with public hearings on bills to impose a statutory framework for <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5387&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">corporate practice of medicine</a>, establish a <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5561&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">new "provider registry"</a> to track physicians, practitioners, and practices throughout the state, and a bill that would prohibit non-disclosure agreements from being utilized between physicians and patients, including in medical malpractice settlements. </p>
<p>On Friday Feb. 7, there will be a hearing in the Senate Health &amp; Long Term Care Committee on <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=5395&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">Senate Bill 5395</a>, priority legislation from WSMA, the Washington State Hospital Association, and Proliance Surgeons to promote transparency and accountability around insurance carrier prior authorization practices. Here's a summary of the key provisions of SB 5395: </p>
<ul>
<li>Adds requirements for carriers to identify the person who made their prior authorization determination and provide an opportunity for peer-to-peer review if the request is denied. The carrier peer reviewer would be required to be licensed to practice medicine and knowledgeable of and have experience providing the health care service under review. </li>
<li>Requires that medical necessity determinations are made by a licensed health care physician or health care practitioner working within their scope of practice. </li>
<li>Provides that artificial intelligence or similar tools cannot be the sole means used to make a coverage determination and if AI is utilized it must meet certain standards. </li>
<li>Permits carriers to make adjustments to prior authorization procedures, but adjustments can only be made once annually and go into effect on Jan. 1. </li>
<li>Directs the Health Care Authority to develop a list of treatments and pharmaceuticals that do not require prior authorization in Medicaid. </li>
<li>Requires reporting for overall number of authorization requests and denials to be included in current carrier reporting and establishing this same reporting in Medicaid. </li>
<li>Provides that retroactive denials following an initial authorization are not considered adverse benefit determinations and are payable with interest assessed. </li>
</ul>
<p>Sunday marks the 21st day of session, meaning that we're one-fifth of the way through the scheduled 105 days of session. We'll continue to provide updates through WSMA's communication channels as session progresses, and if you have questions or concerns about anything happening in Olympia, contact WSMA Government Affairs Director <a href="mailto:sean@wsma.org">Sean Graham</a>. </p>
</div> | 1/31/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |