| final_sunrise_review_recommendations_on_optometric_midwifery_scope | Final Sunrise Review Recommendations on Optometric, Midwifery Scope | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2022/January_28/final_sunrise_review_recommendations_on_optometric_midwifery_scope | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>January 28, 2022</h5>
<h2>Final Sunrise Review Recommendations on Optometric, Midwifery Scope </h2>
<p>Earlier this week, the Washington State Department of Health released three highly anticipated sets of recommendations on sunrise reviews requested by optometrists, midwives, and anesthesiologists.</p>
<p>Sunrise reviews are the process by which the DOH considers proposals that would create new health professions or amend the practices of regulated health professions. These reviews offer opportunities for feedback from physicians and the wider public and bear watching as they can prompt future legislation impacting the practice of medicine.</p>
<h3>Optometry scope of practice</h3>
<p>The Optometric Physicians of Washington is seeking to increase the optometrist scope of practice. Proposed changes include expanding scope of practice to allow optometrists to diagnose and treat some surgical conditions without comprehensive medical training, as well as the use of injections, scalpels, and lasers on the eyes and tissues surrounding the eyes without specifying any additional education or training requirements. The proposal also would grant sole authority to determine what constitutes the practice of optometry to the Board of Optometry.</p>
<p>In its <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/Newsletters/2022/2021-optometry-sunrise-final.pdf]">final recommendation</a>, the DOH determines that certain aspects of the proposal meet the sunrise criteria, but the bill as written is too broad and does not adequately describe what procedures would be allowed. The DOH recommends specific changes to ensure patient safety.</p>
<p>The WSMA is concerned with this recommendation and opposed the corresponding legislation, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5542&amp;Year=2021&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5542</a>, when it was heard in the Senate Health and Long Term Care committee earlier this week.</p>
<h3>Midwifery scope of practice</h3>
<p>The Midwives Association of Washington is seeking to increase the midwifery scope of practice. The proposal would grant licensed midwives limited prescriptive authority for "medications and therapies for the prevention and treatment of common prenatal and postpartum conditions and hormonal and nonhormonal family planning methods."</p>
<p>In its <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/Newsletters/2022/2021-midwifery-sunrise-final.pdf]">final recommendation</a>, the DOH supports the concept of the proposal because it would increase access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. However, the DOH does not support the proposal under review and recommends additional parameters to clarify the application of the proposed prescriptive authority and the required additional education and training.</p>
<p>Corresponding legislation, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5765&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2021">Senate Bill 5765</a>, was also heard in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee earlier this week. The WSMA was on hand to share our support of DOH's recommendations.</p>
<h3>Anesthesia assistants</h3>
<p>The DOH <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/Newsletters/2022/2021-anesthesiologist-assistant-sunrise-review-final.pdf]">recommended in favor</a> of a proposal from the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists to create a license for anesthesia assistants if certain changes are made to address safety. The WSMA is pleased with this recommendation and will support corresponding legislation during the 2022 legislative session.</p>
</div> | 1/27/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| hhs_releases_$2_billion_in_new_provider_relief_fund_payments | HHS Releases $2 Billion in New Provider Relief Fund Payments | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2022/January_28/hhs_releases_$2_billion_in_new_provider_relief_fund_payments | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>January 28, 2022</h5>
<h2>HHS Releases $2 Billion in New Provider Relief Fund Payments</h2>
<p>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, is making more than $2 billion in Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments to more than 7,600 physicians and providers across the country this week.</p>
<p>These payments come on the heels of the nearly $9 billion in funding that was already released by HHS in December. Like the payments allocated in December, the newly announced payments will be based on lost revenues and increased expenses due to COVID-19 and will be made to physicians who previously applied for relief funds. HHS will reimburse a larger share of losses and increased expenses for smaller providers and a portion of the payments will be based on the amount and type of services provided to Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP patients. To mitigate disparities due to varying Medicaid reimbursement rates, HHS is using Medicare reimbursement rates in calculating these payments. Physician practices that receive more than $10,000 in payments will be required to report on their use of the funds. Visit the <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief">HRSA Provider Relief Fund dedicated webpages</a> for more information.</p>
</div> | 1/27/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| session_update_wsma_members_testify_on_priority_bills | Session Update: WSMA Members Testify on Priority Bills | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2022/January_28/session_update_wsma_members_testify_on_priority_bills | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2022/january/testimony-4-photos-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="four images of physicians testifying virtually" /></div>
<h5>January 28, 2022</h5>
<h2>Session Update: WSMA Members Testify on Priority Bills</h2>
<p>Nearly three weeks into the 60-day "short" state legislative session, WSMA's legislative advocacy-powered by your membership, as well as the hard work of our lobbying team and volunteer WSMA members providing direct testimony-is at full-strength. Here's a brief look at several bills of note to the physician community.</p>
<p><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5704&amp;Year=2021&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5704</a>, which would require health insurance carriers to reimburse advanced registered nurse practitioners at the same rate as physicians for the "same services," had a public hearing in the Senate Health &amp; Long Term Care Committee on Jan. 17. WSMA President-Elect Katina Rue, DO, was joined by WSMA member and medical student Reilly Bealer and Ashlin Mountjoy, MD, as well as WSMA contract lobbyist Katie Kolan to testify in opposition to this legislation, noting the fundamental differences in education and training between physicians and ARNPs. The WSMA also sent out an action alert to physicians statewide urging them to contact their state senator and share their perspective on the issue.</p>
<p>WSMA priority legislation <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1889&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2021">House Bill 1889</a>, concerning network adequacy, was heard on Monday, Jan. 24 in the House Health Care &amp; Wellness Committee. WSMA members Erik Penner, MD, and Dominique Coco, MD, joined WSMA Director of Government Affairs Sean Graham to testify in support.</p>
<p>Two scope of practice bills were heard in the Senate Health &amp; Long Term Care Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 26. WSMA joined the Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons to testify in opposition to <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5542&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2021">Senate Bill 5542</a>, which would expand the scope practice of optometrists to include surgical procedures that utilize scalpels, lasers, and injections, among other provisions. Among the physicians testifying against SB 5542 were WSMA Past President Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD, and WSMA members Aaron Weingeist, MD, and Rachel Reinhardt, MD. WSMA Associate Director of Legislative Affairs Alex Wehinger was on hand to testify as "other" for <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5765&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2021">Senate Bill 5765</a>, which would grant licensed midwives limited prescriptive authority.</p>
<p>These are just a few examples of our advocacy at work in Olympia. Thank you to all of the physicians who testified on the above issues and the many more who have testified recently on other health-care-related legislation. And thank you to all who responded to our call to action.</p>
<p>Important dates ahead:</p>
<ul>
<li>Feb. 3: Policy committee cutoff</li>
<li>Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m.: WSMA Legislative Summit - register <a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_euSsj0qaQqGRwDqVyuiarA">here</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Visit the WSMA website for more details on our session advocacy. For weekly updates, WSMA members may subscribe to receive the WSMA Outreach &amp; Advocacy Report by emailing <a href="mailto:shelby@wsma.org">shelby@wsma.org</a>.</p>
</div> | 1/27/2022 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |