| the_house_of_medicine_celebrates_its_175th_birthday | The House of Medicine Celebrates Its 175th Birthday | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2022/the_house_of_medicine_celebrates_its_175th_birthday | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/latest-news/2022/may/AMA-175-Anniversary-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="AMA 175th Anniversary logo" /></div>
<h5>May 23, 2022</h5>
<h2>The House of Medicine Celebrates Its 175th Birthday</h2>
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The gains we constantly make in diagnosing and treating illness and injury are easy to take for granted-until we realize just how far organized medicine has advanced since the mid-1800s, when bloodletting and blistering helped place "bodily humors" back into balance.
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Today, next-generation mRNA vaccines and groundbreaking advancements in gene therapy are just two examples demonstrating our tremendous progress in restoring health and maintaining wellness for all, which also means dismantling the structural and social drivers of health inequities.
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The American Medical Association, which marks the 175th anniversary of its founding this month, helps propel the science and research that drives organized medicine forward through advocacy and innovation built around the world's first-ever code of medical ethics. The AMA's work to both standardize and modernize medical education and physician training are key elements in meeting its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
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As not only an individual membership association, but also the convening national body of medicine through its House of Delegates-comprising more than 190 state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders-the AMA is the nation's largest and most influential medical organization. The policies adopted by the House of Delegates underpin its advocacy and guide ethical medical practice for millions of physicians in the U.S. and around the world.
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Delegates selected by the state medical associations, medical specialty societies, national medical organizations, and other recognized constituent associations that comprise the AMA House of Delegates meet twice each year to shape AMA policy and prioritize initiatives in medical education, ethical and judicial affairs, public health, diversity and inclusion, and a host of other subjects.
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Physicians who serve as delegates from the WSMA include:
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<ul>
<li>Amish Dave, MD</li>
<li>Peter Dunbar, MD</li>
<li>Matthew Grierson, MD</li>
<li>Erin Harnish, MD</li>
<li>Nariman Heshmati, MD</li>
<li>Benjamin Meyer, MD</li>
<li>Libby Parker, MD</li>
<li>Elizabeth Peterson, MD</li>
<li>Sheila Rege, MD</li>
<li>Rodney Trytko, MD, MBA, MPH</li>
</ul>
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The WSMA has been proud to partner with the AMA on numerous initiatives and efforts over the years. A few recent examples:
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<ul>
<li>Through the Wellness Practice Transformation Initiative being led by the AMA and the Physicians Foundation, the WSMA Foundation, WSMA's non-profit organization dedicated to improving physician wellness and patient care, is identifying solutions and sharing best practices for improving the clinician experience and making meaningful change at the practice level.</li>
<li>The WSMA frequently partners with the AMA when filing amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs that argue a physician-centric perspective in lawsuits of major importance to physicians, patients, and the practice of medicine. Most recently, this was demonstrated when the WSMA joined with the AMA and others to support a successful challenge to the independent dispute resolution rulemaking of the federal No Surprises Act.</li>
<li>Working together on advocacy efforts at the federal level, lobbying Congress in support of Medicare sustainability (payment reform, telehealth), pandemic financial relief, and addressing the opioid epidemic. We have also collaborated to develop state-level solutions for issues like prior authorization, network adequacy, and scope of practice.</li>
</ul>
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Since the earliest days of its founding, the AMA and its state and specialty medical association partners have put patients first, from our earliest efforts to protect the public from medical quackery and fraudulent "medicines" that were ineffective at best and life-threatening at worst. Over the years, we have spoken for physicians in a unified voice in championing vaccine safety and efficacy, confirming the harmful effects of tobacco use while helping ban smoking on airliners, and advocating for seat belts as standard equipment in vehicles, among other initiatives.
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The AMA continues to fulfill its mission by working to remove obstacles to patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises, and driving the future of medicine through innovation and improved physician training and education.
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While the AMA can be rightfully proud of its contributions to organized medicine, the organization has also owned up to the fact that some of its prior actions and policies helped create many of the disparities and inequities in health that persist today. The AMA has acknowledged these mistakes and is working collaboratively to eliminate inequities throughout health care to achieve optimal health for all.
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As the AMA marks its 175th anniversary, its leadership is grateful for the contributions of time and volunteer service by millions of physician members who have advanced its mission over generations while working tirelessly to improve the health of their patients, communities, and our nation.
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</div> | 5/23/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| latest_health_care_cost_transparency_board_activity_provokes_concerns | Latest Health Care Cost Transparency Board Activity Provokes Concerns | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2022/May_13/latest_health_care_cost_transparency_board_activity_provokes_concerns | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2022/may/stethoscope-numbers-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="stethoscope" /></div>
<h5>May 13, 2022</h5>
<h2>Latest Health Care Cost Transparency Board Activity Provokes Concerns </h2>
<p>The WSMA, in conjunction with the Washington State Hospital Association, submitted a third <a href="https://wsma.org/doc_library/news/wsma-wsha-hcctb-letter-20220415.pdf" target="_blank">comment letter</a>&nbsp;to the state's Health Care Cost Transparency Board in mid-April, outlining our continued shared concerns with inflation and the impact that COVID-19 has had and will continue to have on Washington's health care delivery system.</p>
<p>In addition, we raised concerns with the decision-making process undertaken by the board, where decisions are often made before receiving feedback from the advisory committee. WSMA and WSHA recommended that the board more routinely seek advice and direction from the committee prior to making these critical decisions. Regarding the selection criteria, the letter strongly urges the board to consider not only the potential benefit in terms of reducing cost growth, but also whether a new strategy may cause harm to patients by reducing access to services or quality or have other unintended consequences.</p>
<p>The WSMA continues to attend both board and committee meetings to monitor progress toward reducing cost growth spending in Washington's health care delivery system.</p>
</div> | 5/13/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| new_policies_in_effect_to_help_to_prevent_drug_overdose | New Policies in Effect to Help to Prevent Drug Overdose | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2022/May_13/new_policies_in_effect_to_help_to_prevent_drug_overdose | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2022/may/Buprenorphine-Butrans10mcg_645px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Buprenorphine" /></div>
<h5>May 13, 2022</h5>
<h2>New Policies in Effect to Help to Prevent Drug Overdose</h2>
<p>Two new laws are now in effect that require health care service providers to offer patients medications for opioid use disorder and prevent physicians and providers from not accepting patients with a substance use disorder.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=71.24.585">RCW 71.24.585(2)</a> requires the Washington State Health Care Authority, as of Jan. 1, 2020, to "prioritize state resources for the provision of treatment and recovery support services to inpatient and outpatient treatment settings that allow patients to start or maintain their use of medications for opioid use disorder while engaging in services."</li>
<li>A <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-issues-guidance-protections-people-opioid-use-disorder-under-americans">U.S. Department of Justice memo</a> dated Tuesday, April 5, explains that the federal government considers substance use disorders as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.</li>
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<p>Failure to allow medications for opioid use disorder in substance use disorder agencies can lead to a loss of Medicaid payments. Failure to allow the admission or treatment of people with opioid use disorder in any setting can lead to a federal complaint related to violating the ADA.</p>
<p>These laws come at a time when overdoses, including those related to opioids, continue to increase. Last year, more than 100,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose. Here in Washington, more than 2,000 people lost their lives. Increases in the use of methamphetamine and cocaine, the introduction of fentanyl into the state's illicit opioid supply, and the stress, strain, and anxiety of the last several years have all contributed to this rise.</p>
<p>For more information on these policies, see this <a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/opiod-pandemic-letter-05-04-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">May 4, 2022 letter from Acting Medicaid Director Charissa Fotinos, MD, addressed to medical professionals and health advocates</a>. The Health Care Authority would be happy to partner with any agency looking to implement these policies. Contact Kodi Campbell at <a href="mailto:kodi.campbell@hca.wa.gov">kodi.campbell@hca.wa.gov</a> for more information.</p>
</div> | 5/13/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |