session-update-tax-increases-and-medicaid-access-program | Session Update: Tax Increases and Medicaid Access Program | Early career | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/april-18/session-update-tax-increases-and-medicaid-access-program | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2025/april/wa-capitol-columns-645x425ps.png" class="pull-right" alt="Columns of the Washington Legislative Building" /></div>
<h5>April 18, 2025</h5>
<h2>Session Update: Tax Increases and Medicaid Access Program </h2>
<p>With the scheduled adjournment of the 2025 legislative session approaching on Sunday, April 27, legislators are working toward agreement on a final state budget and tax increases to bridge an estimated $15 billion shortfall. As is the case with most sessions, this year has presented challenges and opportunities, and we saw both for the physician community over the last week. </p>
<p>On Monday, the Senate approved <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1392&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 1392</a>, the WSMA's Medicaid Access Program legislation to improve access to care by increasing Medicaid rates to Medicare equivalents. The bill goes back to the House for agreement with changes made by the Senate, then to the governor's desk for approval. </p>
<p>Assuming the bill passes into law this year, our next phase of work will commence in seeking federal approval from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. Passing the bill through the House and Senate this year is a major step forward, and we're grateful to all of the WSMA members who advocated in support of the bill through messages to legislators, media engagement, and public testimony. This was truly a team effort and we thank you all for your engagement! </p>
<p>Our celebration in Olympia was short-lived, however, as on Tuesday majority-party Democrats released a new package of tax proposals totaling around $13 billion, intended to be part of a final budget agreement. Most businesses and industries will be impacted by elements of the tax proposals and the physician community is no exception. </p>
<p>In particular, the proposal to increase the state business and occupation tax in <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2081&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2081</a> and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=5815&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">Senate Bill 5815</a> will have a significant impact on physician organizations. The bills would increase the B&amp;O tax rate for the "service and other activities," which includes physician organizations, from 1.75% to 2.1%. This represents a 20% increase and layers on top of the increase we saw in 2019, when the rate was raised from 1.5%. </p>
<p>Legislators are facing legitimately difficult decisions in crafting a final state budget that will likely rely on a combination of cuts and tax increases. State health care programs are particularly vulnerable, as health care constitutes the largest slice of the state budget that is not constitutionally protected. But especially as physician organizations cannot set their own prices and have to look at measures that reduce access to care to mitigate the impact of tax increases, the B&amp;O rate hike will have a similar impact as the budget cuts that legislators are trying to avoid with tax increases. </p>
<p>The WSMA is working in opposition to the B&amp;O tax increase on physician organizations, asking that the current B&amp;O rate be maintained. You can join in our advocacy by <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/no-b-and-o-tax-increase/?_zs=KUcFd1&amp;_zl=mkTAA">sending a message to your legislators today</a>. </p>
</div> | 4/18/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
national-minority-health-month-guidance-on-delivering-culturally-sensitive-care | National Minority Health Month: Guidance on Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care | Early career | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/april-11/national-minority-health-month-guidance-on-delivering-culturally-sensitive-care | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/april/hands-circle-illustration-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="illustration of hands in a circle" /></div>
<h5>April 11, 2025</h5>
<h2>National Minority Health Month: Guidance on Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care </h2>
<p>April is National Minority Health Month. This month-long celebration highlights the importance of promoting and improving the health and wellness of historically marginalized communities, which continue to pay a heavy price from health inequities. Whether it's poorer outcomes for Black patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, low birth weights for Hispanic infants, or higher rates of behavioral health issues among LGBTQ+ youth, studies have shown a consistent gap among how patients access and fare in the health care system depending upon their identity.</p>
<p>Helping physicians understand the root causes of health inequities, including their own contributions to them, no matter how unconscious, is essential to ensure all patients receive the highest-quality care. The WSMA will celebrate this year's National Minority Health Month with a month-long campaign highlighting our health equity professional resources. Make the commitment today to advance health equity for the patients you serve, starting with the following guidance.</p>
<h3>Building authentic relationships of trust and delivering culturally sensitive care</h3>
<p>The WSMA and WSMA Foundation identified the need to mitigate the harm of racism perpetuated throughout medicine and set a goal to develop a plan for physicians and physician assistants to build authentic relationships of trust with diverse communities through mentorship, education, and community support programs. Building and maintaining trustworthy relationships with your patients is critical to delivering equitable and culturally sensitive care. Use the following best practice resources, developed by the WSMA and the WSMA Foundation, as a starting point.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><strong>Improving early detection of&nbsp;</strong><strong>colon cancer </strong>- Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. with about 4.2% of men and women being diagnosed at some point in their lifetime. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends starting screening for colorectal cancer at age 50, with some risk factors such as a family history indicating earlier screening. In Washington state, of adults aged 50-75, only 63% with commercial insurance and 43% with Medicaid received screening, with variation by county. Review guidance on <a href="https://wsma.org/doc_library/news/colon-cancer-best-practices-one-pager-final.pdf" target="_blank">delivering culturally sensitive care to improve rates of colon cancer screenings</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><strong>Preventing maternal mortality</strong> - The U.S. has the worst maternal mortality rate among developed nations. Death rates amongst Black birthing people are higher than other racial groups. Black birthing people are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white birthing people. Pregnancy-related mortality is preventable if the root causes are identified and addressed early on. Review guidance on <a href="https://wsma.org/doc_library/news/maternal-mortality-best-practices-one-pager.pdf" target="_blank">delivering culturally sensitive care to prevent maternal mortality</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><strong>Improving early detection of endometrial cancer</strong> - Endometrial cancer is detectable early due to symptoms such as postmenopausal bleeding. It is always treatable and often cured. Black women have a 98% higher rate of death from endometrial cancer compared to white women, much of which is due to late-stage diagnosis. The goal is to have no difference in stage of endometrial cancer diagnosis by race, class, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Review guidance on <a href="https://wsma.org/doc_library/news/endometrial-cancer-best-practices-one-pager.pdf" target="_blank">delivering culturally sensitive care to improve early detection of endometrial cancer</a>.</p>
<h3>Guidance on key terms, definitions, further reading, and more</h3>
<p>For more guidance on building trust with your patients, visit the <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/health-equity/inclusive-language-and-health-equity-resources.aspx?hkey=17162be8-1f3b-402c-b5b3-9371960a4740&amp;WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927">WSMA Foundation's Inclusive Language and Health Equity Resources</a>, where you'll find: </p>
<ul>
<li>Learning about trust: Guidance on key terms, definitions, and background material.</li>
<li>Tools and templates for building trust in your community.</li>
<li>Additional resources, including a list of state health coalitions representing Washington state's diverse communities.</li>
<li>Further reading on achieving health equity.</li>
</ul>
<p>For all of our health equity resources and CME opportunities, take a moment to explore the WSMA Foundation's <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/health-equity/wsma/foundation/health-equity/health-equity.aspx?hkey=4afa0741-715c-400d-9a5b-3cea426872c1">health equity webpages</a>.</p>
</div> | 4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
new-cme-podcast-episodes-available-on-wellness-moud | New CME Podcast Episodes Available on Wellness, MOUD | Early career | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/april-11/new-cme-podcast-episodes-available-on-wellness-moud | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/april/wsma-podcasts-icon-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA Podcasts logo" /></div>
<h5>April 11, 2025</h5>
<h2>New CME Podcast Episodes Available on Wellness, MOUD </h2>
<p>New episodes from our Physician and Practitioner Wellness Podcast and our Better Prescribing Better Treatment Podcast are now available, accessible when and where you want (and featuring CME credit).</p>
<h3>Physician and Practitioner Wellness podcasts on staff retention, wellness programs, self-compassion, more</h3>
<p> </p>
<p>Like the <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/physician-and-practitioner-wellness-webinar-series/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/physician-and-practitioner-wellness-webinar-series.aspx?hkey=be048ba4-758d-472c-9168-7449f8c5728a">live webinar series</a>, the Physician and Practitioner Wellness Podcast provides discussions on topics such as creating a culture of wellness, creating effective teams, and drawing on evidence-based work on wellness. Each episode is moderated by a member of the WSMA and WSMA Foundation Wellness Committee. The podcast is free and open to all practitioner types. Access the following new podcast episodes on the <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/physician-and-practitioner-wellness-podcast/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/physician-and-practitioner-wellness-podcast.aspx?hkey=bc2edb3f-b410-48c8-8e36-1b9c4f24af67">WSMA website</a> or from our podcast channel, WSMA Podcasts, available through <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsma-podcasts/id1702920307">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0PBMBLgHr6e0X3OaMjyJON?si=af140842c00c430c">Spotify</a>. Each podcast is approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Creditâ„¢</em>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Episode 2: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wellness-podcast-episodes/episode-2-wellness-centered-leadership.aspx">Wellness-Centered Leadership</a> - How wellness-centered leadership practiced by both physicians and practitioners can facilitate workplace culture that enables physician well-being. With Ashleigh Rodriguez, co-founder and head of innovation and strategy at Care4th.</li>
<li>Episode 3: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wellness-podcast-episodes/episode-3-building-a-business-case-for-well-being.aspx">Building a Business Case for Well-Being</a> - Confluence Health's collaborative approach to investing in and delivering a clinician wellness program. With James Murray, MD, chief medical officer, and Makrina Shanbour, MD, director of provider experience.</li>
<li>Episode 4: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wellness-podcast-episodes/episode-4-use-of-team-based-care.aspx">Use of Team-Based Care to Improve Clinician Professional Fulfillment</a> - The importance of interprofessional teams in ambulatory care, emphasizing patient-centered, team-based collaboration, leadership models, and best practices to enhance health care delivery and improve patient outcomes. With Carrie Horwitch, MD, vice president of the WSMA Foundation and a member of the WSMA Wellness committee.</li>
<li>Episode 5: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wellness-podcast-episodes/episode-5-thriving-in-medicine.aspx">Thriving in Medicine</a> - Physician and practitioner engagement and retention issues, leadership development opportunities, professional fulfillment as a quality improvement tool, and the WSMA Foundation Wellness Committee's "Thriving in Medicine" report. With Carrie Horwitch, MD, vice president, WSMA Foundation board, and Alka Atal-Barrio, MD, national senior medical director of Optum Health and chair of the WSMA Wellness Committee.</li>
<li>Episode 6: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wellness-podcast-episodes/episode-6-fierce-self-compassion-and-boundaries.aspx">Fierce Self-Compassion and Boundaries</a> - Self-compassion, the challenges of boundary setting, and strategies for practicing self-compassion and setting or adjusting boundaries effectively. With Nina Willow, MD, a seasoned family physician with 28 years of experience: 18 in high-acuity urgent care and 10 in community medicine for immigrant and refugee populations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Better Prescribing, Better Treatment podcasts on OUD treatment via telemedicine, in schools, with first-responders, more </h3>
<p>Better Prescribing, Better Treatment is WSMA's physician-led, peer-to-peer, non-punitive initiative aimed at encouraging safe prescribing of opioids, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and treatment of opioid use disorder. To complement the program's peer reporting and best practices, Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD, hosts a podcast featuring conversations with guest physician leaders from across specialties and systems on how we reduce the dependence on opioids for pain management where appropriate, help those suffering with chronic conditions safely, and help those with addiction.</p>
<p>The following new episodes are available on the <a href="[@]wsma/resources/better-prescribing-better-treatment/better-prescribing-better-treatment-podcast.aspx">WSMA website</a> or from our podcast channel, WSMA Podcasts, available through <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsma-podcasts/id1702920307">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0PBMBLgHr6e0X3OaMjyJON?si=af140842c00c430c">Spotify</a>. Each podcast is approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Creditâ„¢</em>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Episode 19: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/better-prescribing-better-treatment/podcast-episodes/bpbt-episode-19-telemedicine-and-treatment-prescribing.aspx">Telemedicine and Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder</a> - The benefits of prescribing buprenorphine via telehealth and what Washington state is doing around virtual care and treatment of opioid use disorder. With Jessica Schlicher, MD, MBA, chief medical officer for virtual care and digital health at Providence.</li>
<li>Episode 20: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/better-prescribing-better-treatment/podcast-episodes/bpbt-episode-20-schools-and-treatment-of-opioid-use-disorder.aspx">Schools and Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder</a> - Current school-based efforts in education, prevention, and treatment of opioid use disorders, and strategies to support youth, collaborate with families, and strengthen community partnerships for effective interventions. With Becky Maffei, school counselor at Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor.</li>
<li>Episode 21: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/better-prescribing-better-treatment/podcast-episodes/bpbt-episode-21-regulation-and-legislative-update.aspx">Regulation and Legislative Update</a> - The state's approach to addressing the opioid epidemic, settlements underway, and what to look for in the 2025 legislative session. With the WSMA's Sean Graham and Jeb Shepard.</li>
<li>Episode 22: <a href="http://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/better-prescribing-better-treatment/podcast-episodes/bpbt-episode-22-first-responders-and-the-opioid-crisis.aspx">First Responders and the Opioid Crisis</a> - The role of first responders in the opioid epidemic, and what can be done to improve access to OUD treatment. With Mike Dumas, division chief of EMS, Gig Harbor Fire &amp; Medic One.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Now available: Coaching services on improving opioid prescribing and treatment protocols in clinics </h3>
<p>The WSMA is pleased to offer coaching services on improving opioid prescribing and treatment protocols in clinics. Examples of past projects include developing an opioid curriculum for a residency program and updating clinic opioid prescribing policies. As part of WSMA's current grant funding for the Better Prescribing, Better Treatment program, we are excited to offer a stipend for clinics that engage with us. You will also get consulting time with the program's chief clinical officer, Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD. Contact Monica Salgaonkar at <a href="mailto:monica@wsma.org">monica@wsma.org</a> for more information.</p>
</div> | 4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |