| 2023-legislative-session-update-an-update-on-wsma-policy-priorities | 2023 Legislative Session Update: An Update on WSMA Policy Priorities | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2023/2023-legislative-session-update-an-update-on-wsma-policy-priorities | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/812098090"><img src="/images/Newsletters/latest-news/2023/march/legislative-update-wk-12.png" alt="WSMA Legislative Update Week of March 27, 2023" /></a></div>
<h5>March 27, 2023</h5>
<h2>2023 Legislative Session Update: An Update on WSMA Policy Priorities</h2>
<p>With just under one month left in the state legislative session, WSMA Director of Government Affairs Sean Graham provides an update on four of WSMA's policy priorities: access for abortion and reproductive health care services, addressing gun violence, prior authorization modernization and standardization, and scope of practice.
<a href="https://vimeo.com/812098090">Watch the video</a>.
</p>
</div> | 3/27/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| department-of-health-advisory-regarding-the-buprenorphine-x-waiver | Department of Health Advisory Regarding the Buprenorphine X Waiver | Latest_News | 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>
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<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> | 3/24/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| medpac-recommends-tying-physician-payment-update-to-inflation | MedPAC Recommends Tying Physician Payment Update to Inflation | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/march-24/medpac-recommends-tying-physician-payment-update-to-inflation | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/march/medicare-barcode-645px.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="Medicare barcode" /></div>
<h5>March 24, 2023</h5>
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<h2>MedPAC Recommends Tying Physician Payment Update to Inflation </h2>
<p>In a historic first, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission called for a physician payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index in its <a href="https://www.medpac.gov/document/march-2023-report-to-the-congress-medicare-payment-policy/">yearly report to Congress</a>. The American Medical Association was quick to praise the nonpartisan commission's recommendation, calling it a first step toward reforming the Medicare payment system and, together with the support of the WSMA and organized medicine, has urged Congress to go even further.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-commends-medpac-move-recognize-costs-practicing-medicine">statement</a>, AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., MD, said, "MedPAC recognized that physician pay has not kept up with the cost of practicing medicine. Yet, we feel strongly that an update tied to just 50% of MEI will cause physician payment to chronically fall even further behind increases in the cost of providing care."</p>
<p>The WSMA has joined with the AMA and 133 other health organizations to <a href="https://searchlf.ama-assn.org/letter/documentDownload?uri=%2Funstructured%2Fbinary%2Fletter%2FLETTERS%2Flfdr.zip%2FAMA-Inflation-Payment-Update-MEDPAC-sign-on-letter-FINAL-3-15-23.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">send a letter to congressional leaders</a> urging the adoption of a 2024 Medicare payment update that recognizes the full inflationary growth in health care costs. The letter points out the real-life impact of the eroding value of Medicare payments. According to MedPAC, among those looking for a new primary care physician, half of Medicare patients had difficulty in finding one. And among Medicare patients looking for a new specialist, one-third struggled to find one. Finding specialists in rural and historically underserved areas is particularly difficult, and the payment system is creating even bigger barriers for patients in those communities.</p>
<p>Visit the WSMA website for <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/medicare_payment_reform/wsma/advocacy/medicare_payment_reform/medicare_payment_reform.aspx?hkey=d1a48c1c-af7b-4680-bd55-967338f3c977">more on organized medicine's efforts to reform the Medicare payment system</a>.</p>
</div> | 3/24/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |