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WSMA Annual Meeting

The 2023 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates will be held in person Sept. 23-24, 2023 at the Westin Bellevue. Visit the House of Delegates page for the report on the official actions of the 2022 WSMA House of Delegates.

A big thank you to the WSMA members and delegates who attended the 2022 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates. Watch our brief thank you video for a peek inside the meeting.

About the WSMA Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates (or the WSMA Annual Meeting) is the WSMA's premiere policy-making event, when the approximately 175 voting members of the WSMA House of Delegates gather to debate and determine policy for the association, elect officers and network with colleagues. All are welcome to attend the WSMA Annual Meeting and take advantage of the educational offerings, network and learn more about the association.

About the House of Delegates

The WSMA is governed by a House of Delegates comprising elected delegates from each county medical society, qualified state specialty societies, and members of the WSMA board of trustees. There is one resident delegate, one student delegate, and one young physician delegate. Each county society has one delegate for every 50 active WSMA members.

Each medical specialty society is entitled to elect or appoint one delegate and one alternate, provided that such specialty society has as members at least 100 active members of the WSMA, or if the specialty society has fewer than 100 members, 50% of its members must belong to the WSMA.

Delegates are expected to be available for one year of service from the beginning of the House of Delegates meeting until the House of Delegates meeting the following year. Delegates shall be available to provide input and information and guidance to the WSMA’s board of trustees and executive committee as they administer and interpret policy set by the House of Delegates, and as they make policy decisions when the House of Delegates is not in session.

All legislative power of the WSMA—including the power to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws—is vested in the House of Delegates. All business of the House is conducted according to parliamentary procedures as outlined in "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure." The speaker of the House serves as parliamentarian. The speaker of the House is Matthew Grierson, MD, of Seattle. The vice speaker of the House is Ray Hsiao, MD, of Seattle.

Policymaking at the meeting is primarily driven by resolutions. A resolution is a proposal asking the WSMA to take a position or act on an issue. Learn more about resolutions and how they help create and guide WSMA policy.

How the House of Delegates operates

The House convenes its opening session on Saturday morning of the WSMA Annual Meeting. At this time, guests are invited to speak to the delegates and all reports and resolutions are referred to reference committees. This is followed by meetings of the reference committees on Saturday.

The House holds a second session on Sunday morning. The reference committees present their reports for consideration by the House on Sunday.

Learn more about the House of Delegates.

Learn more about delegate duties.

Reference committees

Information on the reference committees can be found in the expandable section above.

Disclaimer

Please note that the WSMA may have a photographer and/or videographer on-site at this event to gather imagery for use by the WSMA in its communications materials and channels, as well as for media outreach. These images will be the property of the WSMA, and the WSMA will not sell or otherwise market event imagery. If you have any questions regarding imagery taken at a WSMA event, please contact Milana McLead at 206.441.9762 or milana@wsma.org.

Corporate Partners and Meeting Exhibitors

The WSMA wishes to thank the following corporate partners for their generous year-long contributions. For more information, visit our Corporate Partners page, review our corporate partners brochure or contact Jessica Martinson at 206.956.3628 or jessica@wsma.org.

Exclusive Premier Partner

Founded in 1981 under the auspices of the WSMA, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company is the Northwest's leading medical professional liability insurance company, physician-owned and exclusively endorsed to this day by the WSMA. For over 30 years, Physicians Insurance has remained the stable, committed and local insurer for physicians, clinics, facilities and hospitals, providing risk-management consulting, continuing medical education and claims administration services to more than 7,000 members in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.

Promoters

The Polyclinic and The Everett Clinic are teaming up to deliver exceptional health care throughout the Pacific Northwest. Both organizations have strong physician leadership, deep roots in the local community, and the support and national strength of Optum. Together, we’re helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone.

The UW Psychiatry Consultation Line connects care providers throughout Washington with UW psychiatrists who can provide clinical advice about adult patients with mental health or substance use disorders. The service is fast, free and on-demand. A UW psychiatrist is just a phone call away! Funded by the State of Washington.

Meeting Exhibitors

The WSMA welcomes exhibitors back in-person. For more information about exhibiting, contact Jessica Martinson at 206.956.3628 or jessica@wsma.org or complete the exhibitor set-up form.

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WSMA Member News

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DEA Proposes Extending Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescribing Controlled Substances

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/march-24/dea-proposes-extending-telemedicine-flexibilities-for-prescribing-controlled-substances

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/march/telemedicine-doc-on-tablet-645x425px.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="patient talking on tablet computer to a physician" /></div> <h5>March 24, 2023</h5>  <h2>DEA Proposes Extending Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescribing Controlled Substances </h2> <p>The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed rulemaking to expand telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The proposed rule would provide safeguards for a narrow subset of telemedicine and audio-only consultations: those by a medical practitioner who has never conducted an in-person evaluation of a patient and that result in the prescribing of a controlled substance.</p> <p>For these types of consultations, the proposed telemedicine rules would allow a physician or other prescriber to prescribe:</p> <ul> <li>A 30-day supply of <a href="http://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDk5NTI2OSZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA3NzA3JmxpPTEwMDc3MDIwMA/index.html">Schedule III-V</a> non-narcotic controlled medications or a combination of such drugs that have been approved for use in continuous medical treatment or withdrawal management treatment.</li> <li>A 30-day supply of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.</li> </ul> <p>The DEA has also released a proposed rule to expand the induction of buprenorphine via telemedicine encounter. WSMA staff is reviewing the rulemaking for potential comments. With any questions or feedback on how either rule would impact patient access at your practice, please email <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">policy@wsma.org</a>.</p> </div>

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Department of Health Advisory Regarding the Buprenorphine X Waiver

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/march-24/department-of-health-advisory-regarding-the-buprenorphine-x-waiver

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/march/buprenorphine-butrans10mcg-645px.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="Buprenorphine Butrans" /></div> <h5>March 24, 2023</h5>  <h2>Department of Health Advisory Regarding the Buprenorphine X Waiver</h2> <p>In December, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency eliminated the requirement for physicians and other prescribers to have a DATA 2000 (X) waiver to prescribe buprenorphine-containing medication products for the treatment of opioid use disorder. SAMHSA has additionally dropped the limit on the number of patients physicians may prescribe buprenorphine medications to. The removal of these barriers to treatment represents a significant victory in the battle to reduce opioid addiction and overdose, one in which the <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/january-27/wsma-advocacy-critical-to-removal-of-buprenorphine-prescribing-barriers.aspx?_zs=A3aFd1&amp;_zl=9qFn8">WSMA and a coalition of Washington stakeholders played a critical role</a>.</p> <p>The medication buprenorphine effectively treats opioid use disorder by manage craving and withdrawal, reducing illicit opioid use, and decreasing the risk of overdose. This week, Washington's Chief Science Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, issued the following health advisory for physicians and prescribing clinicians to encourage the prescribing of buprenorphine for OUD:</p> <ul> <li>If you have a current DEA registration number that includes Schedule III authority, effective immediately you may now prescribe buprenorphine formulations for opioid use disorder.</li> <li>There are no longer limitations on the number of patients a prescriber can treat for opioid use disorder with buprenorphine.</li> <li>There are no medication-specific training requirements at this time.</li> <li>With this provision, waiver applications from SAMHSA are no longer needed.</li> </ul> <p>If you have not prescribed buprenorphine or Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) and would like additional education, there are many resources available to support safe and effective treatment of opioid use disorder:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://pcssnow.org/">Providers Clinical Support System</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.learnabouttreatment.org/for-professionals/">Learn About Treatment</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acep.org/patient-care/bupe/">American College of Emergency Physicians</a></li> <li><a href="https://pcl.psychiatry.uw.edu/">University of Washington Consultation Line</a> <ul> <li>Phone: 877.927.7924</li> </ul> </li> <li>Clinician Peer Support for physicians treating pregnant or parenting patients with SUD <ul> <li>Phone: 833.937.9326 (Yes-WeCAN)</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>More information:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/docs/A-23-0020-Dear-Registrant-Letter-Signed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">DEA announcement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/removal-data-waiver-requirement">SAMHSA Removal of DATA Waiver Requirement </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/billers-providers-partners/program-information-providers/medications-opioid-use-disorder-moud">Health Care Authority medications for opioid use disorder</a></li> </ul> <p>For any additional questions, contact <a href="mailto:Hannah.Carmichael@doh.wa.gov">Hannah.Carmichael@doh.wa.gov</a>.</p> </div>

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HCA Seeking Volunteers to Serve as Apple Health Ambassadors

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/march-24/hca-seeking-volunteers-to-serve-as-apple-health-ambassadors

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/march/apple-health-logo-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Apple Health logo" /></div> <h5>March 24, 2023</h5>  <h2>HCA Seeking Volunteers to Serve as Apple Health Ambassadors</h2> <p>The extended coverage for Medicaid patients made possible by the COVID-19 public health emergency will end on April 1 due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The Washington State Health Care Authority is seeking community organizations and individuals to act as volunteer Apple Health ambassadors to help ensure that Apple Health clients maintain coverage at the end of the continuous coverage requirement period.</p> <p>Apple Health ambassadors will:</p> <ul> <li>Help the people in their communities understand actions that need to be taken to maintain coverage, including updating contact information and responding to renewal notices.</li> <li>Work with organizations in their communities by sharing tools and messaging to reach clients. For example, ambassadors may spend a few minutes sharing information at a church service, community sports tournament, or school event.</li> </ul> <p>Ambassadors will receive support from HCA through:</p> <ul> <li>Remote monthly check-in meeting to ask questions and connect with other Apple Health ambassadors.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Access to communications to share with communities, including a social media toolkit with Facebook and Instagram posts.</li> </ul> <p>HCA recently hosted a <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAzMTcuNzM1NjU1NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS93YXRjaD92PUlkS0F0TVBpdGFnJmZlYXR1cmU9eW91dHUuYmUifQ.ndD-UYkWUVOBxfGV8d77xUX-s_4g9TWtHe-P4pYJEgk/s/580746111/br/156367842252-l">webinar</a> that describes how to become an ambassador, and more information, including how to volunteer, can be found at the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAzMTcuNzM1NjU1NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5oY2Eud2EuZ292L2Fib3V0LWhjYS9wcm9ncmFtcy1hbmQtaW5pdGlhdGl2ZXMvYXBwbGUtaGVhbHRoLW1lZGljYWlkL2FwcGxlLWhlYWx0aC1hbWJhc3NhZG9yLXByb2dyYW0ifQ.KzNX6VGYsTEgX3d0o_KfBuKlBChzgw9DTeT8cRGFTUA/s/580746111/br/156367842252-l">Apple Health ambassador program webpage</a>.</p> </div>

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WSMA Annual Meeting

About the WSMA Annual Meeting

About the House of Delegates

How the House of Delegates operates

Reference committees

Disclaimer

Corporate Partners and Meeting Exhibitors

Exclusive Premier Partner

Promoters

Meeting Exhibitors

GOLD EXHIBITOR

SILVER EXHIBITORS

WSMA Member News

Questions