| weekly_rounds_may_13_2019_members_speak_we_listen | Weekly Rounds: May 13, 2019 - Members Speak, We Listen | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2019/weekly_rounds_may_13_2019_members_speak_we_listen | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>May 13, 2019</h5>
<h2>Members Speak, We Listen</h2>
<p>
Jennifer Hanscom, Executive Director/CEO
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<p>
I recently heard from a member who is frustrated and disappointed with the recent <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/state_budget_includes_mental_health_investments_b_and_o_increase_passes">20 percent business and occupation (B&amp;O) tax increase</a> passed by the state Legislature, as well as the <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/the_good_and_bad_of_new_opioid_legislative_policy">new IT requirements mandated as part of the omnibus opioid prescribing bill</a>. Here at the WSMA, we share his distress. These are not the results we had hoped for this legislative session. But with Democrats sweeping into control of the Legislature after several years of tight partisan splits, we knew that pocketbook/professional issues would face an uphill climb in the 2019 session.
</p>
<p>
This member, who operates in an independent practice of five physicians and two nurse practitioners, will be particularly hard hit. That was a point I articulated <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/public-health-wins-but-physician-practices-lose-in-2019-legislative-session/">in my recent editorial in The Seattle Times</a>. He put an even finer point it, saying, "This may be a game changer for our clinic trying to stay independent."
</p>
<p>
His is the voice legislators need to hear. Yours are the stories we need to tell. These are the connections we need to make. If we—all of us—don't loudly, clearly, and aggressively make legislators understand the impact they have on patient care and patient choice in their communities, then the deck will continue to be stacked against us.
</p>
<p>
I am grateful that this physician reached out to me to share his frustration, because through our exchange, I invited him to let us help connect him with his legislators so he can share his story directly. I'm delighted that he agreed. We are working now to connect him to his local legislators at his practice, where they can see firsthand how decisions they make directly impact patients, who are also their constituents. This is the value of each of you being engaged in your professional society.
</p>
<p>
Friends, our work is far from done; this is a long game. The WSMA will use our influence during the interim (the time between legislative sessions) to prepare for next year's session where we'll fight to roll back the B&amp;O tax and advance better payment for physicians. We won't give up, and I implore you not to either. You need to stand with us to help advocate on behalf of the profession and our patients. This work is never done.
</p>
<p>
Right now, we are actively working to connect members with their local legislators so that they can invite them in and share their stories. If you'd like to be part of this effort, email me at <a href="mailto:jen@wsma.org">jen@wsma.org</a>. In addition, the board of directors of WSMA's political action committee, WAMPAC, will be meeting next week to develop our giving strategy as it relates to legislators and candidates who support our professional agenda. Stay tuned for more on this effort.
</p>
<p>
In the meantime, let's not overlook that we had some good wins this session! WSMA's Olympia team will be debriefing members on these wins and other session results during a free lunchtime webinar on May 15—<a href="https://wsma.org/WSMA/Events/WSMA_Legislative_Wrap_Up_Webinar/WSMA/Events/wsma_legislative_wrap_up_webinar.aspx?hkey=9e9d7843-853f-47d0-bae4-7d2595f5c86b">register for the event online</a>.
</p>
<p>
In addition, we are also working on our annual WSMA legislative wrap-up report, which provides an in-depth look at legislative session outcomes and new policies impacting medical practices, and features a "report card" on how your local legislators voted on WSMA's priority issues. Look for this in your mailbox later this summer.
</p>
<p>
Keep the comments and suggestions coming. You can email me at <a href="mailto:jen@wsma.org">jen@wsma.org</a>. I'm happy to come and meet with you individually or as a group, and our other WSMA leaders are as well.
</p>
<p>
And also of note, later this summer we will launch a WSMA "road tour," traveling to Spokane, Bellingham, and Vancouver to hear from you directly. I hope you and your colleagues will join us at these events. We are a member-driven organization, and your involvement drives our agenda as we strive to achieve our mission of providing strong leadership and advocacy that shapes the future of medicine and provides access to care for all Washingtonians.
</p>
</div> | 5/13/2019 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| challenges_and_gains_mark_2019_legislative_session | Challenges and Gains Mark 2019 Legislative Session | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/challenges_and_gains_mark_2019_legislative_session | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>
May 8, 2019
</h5>
<h2>Challenges and Gains Mark 2019 Legislative Session</h2>
<p>
The 2019 state legislative session was gaveled to a close on Sunday, April 28, marking the end of one of the most challenging sessions in memory for the physician community. While there were bright spots, they were overshadowed by several high-priority issues that will adversely impact the bottom line of physicians, particularly those in independent practice.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA was particularly disappointed with the passage of the following proposals:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2019/April/vulnerable_patient_health_care_jeopardized_by_proposed_b_and_o_tax_increase">A tax bill</a> that imposes a 20 percent surcharge on the business &amp; occupation (B&amp;O) tax paid by independent physician practices and clinics. The bill spares hospital systems from the tax increase. </li>
<li><a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/public_option_bill_passes_with_rate_setting_provision.aspx">A "public option" health insurance plan for Washington state</a> with physician reimbursement rates capped at 160 percent of Medicare, a precedential move by the state to limit reimbursement in a commercial health care plan. </li>
<li><a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190424/wrongful_death_bill_passes_legislature_heads_to_governor_for_signing">Legislation expanding wrongful death liability</a>, exposing physicians and other entities to more lawsuits and higher awards.</li>
<li><a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/the_good_and_bad_of_new_opioid_legislative_policy.aspx">Costly IT mandates on physician practices and health care facilities</a> , including a mandate to integrate with the state's prescription drug monitoring program and a mandate to use an electronic prescribing system.</li>
</ul>
<p>
There were also, thankfully, important victories achieved this session for <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/session_ends_with_landmark_public_health_wins.aspx">public health</a> , the state's <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/state_budget_includes_mental_health_investments_b_and_o_increase_passes.aspx">mental and behavioral health system</a> , and for <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/more_wins_whistleblower_protections_fee_setting_transparency_advance_directives.aspx">WSMA-initiated bills</a> , covered separately in this issue of the Membership Memo (and be sure to watch the final <a href="https://vimeo.com/334209068">episode in our legislative update video series featuring WSMA's own Katie Kolan, JD, and Sean Graham</a>). For a more in-depth look at new policies impacting medicine, register to attend our lunchtime <a href="https://wsma.org/WSMA/Events/WSMA_Legislative_Wrap_Up_Webinar/WSMA/Events/wsma_legislative_wrap_up_webinar.aspx?hkey=9e9d7843-853f-47d0-bae4-7d2595f5c86b">session wrap-up webinar</a> on Wednesday, May 15, and keep an eye out for our yearly publication, the WSMA Legislative Report, mailed to members this summer.
</p>
<h3>What's next?</h3>
<p>
As we all know, the legislative process is a long game—good (and bad) policies are often the result of many years of hard work in, and outside of, the Legislature. There will be opportunities to amend laws we are concerned with and opportunities to repeal wrongheaded policies like the B&amp;O tax increase. Our work is far from over, and we will continue to need the engagement of our members and the physician community as we gear up for the next state legislative session in January 2020.
</p>
<p>
As we prepare for our conversations with legislators during the interim (the time during which the Washington State Legislature is not in session), we will remain focused on developing and advocating for policies that will positively impact the bottom lines of physician practices, while continuing to highlight the importance of access to care for patients. After all, physicians can only deliver care if they can keep their doors open—an "on-the-ground" reality that legislators need to develop a better understanding of, and a message the WSMA will continue to hammer home through every available means (see this <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/public-health-wins-but-physician-practices-lose-in-2019-legislative-session/">Seattle Times opinion column from WSMA CEO Jennifer Hanscom</a> as the latest example). As your premier statewide physician professional association, our resolve has never been stronger, as we fight for policies to make Washington a better state to practice medicine and increase the influence of the physician voice in Olympia and beyond.
</p>
</div> | 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| introducing_wsmas_problem_solving_leadership_course | Introducing WSMA's Problem-Solving Leadership Course | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20190508/introducing_wsmas_problem_solving_leadership_course | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>
May 8, 2019
</h5>
<h2>Introducing WSMA's Problem-Solving Leadership Course </h2>
<p>
As physicians mature in their roles, they face increasingly complex problems. With experience, leaders recognize the problems they are trying to solve are complex, adaptive problems that involve personal style, group dynamics, and cultural components that resist easy solutions. For these seasoned physician leaders, the WSMA now offers an intensive three-day adaptive-learning course that examines these challenges and provides the tools necessary to solve them. The WSMA Problem-Solving Leadership Course, held June 20-22 in downtown Seattle, will provide additional growth opportunities for physicians who have completed our Physician Leadership Course and have moved on to middle levels of management in their facilities.
</p>
<p>
This course is led by Edward A. Walker, MD, MHA, professor emeritus in the departments of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and health services at the University of Washington in Seattle. This course is limited to 12 physicians who must be nominated by a mentor, supervisor, or peer. Learn more about <a href="https://wsma.org/WSMA/Resources/Physician_Leadership/Problem_Solving_Leadership_Course/WSMA/Resources/Physician_Leadership/Problem_Solving_Leadership_Course/Problem_Solving_Leadership_Course.aspx?hkey=94b3eada-61da-41d5-a37d-9c1158351a0d">WSMA Problem-Solving Leadership Course</a>. This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Creditâ„¢</em>.
</p>
</div> | 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |