Annual Meeting

Uniting physicians with purpose and vision to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

WSMA Annual Meeting

Thank you to the nearly 200 members of the physician community who participated in the 135th meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates at the Historic Davenport in Spokane on Sept. 28-29, 2024. Watch our thank you video and our Year in Review video, below. And mark your calendars for the 2025 Annual Meeting, being held Sept. 20-21, 2025, at the Westin Bellevue.

For the final actions of the 2024 House of Delegates, which outline the policies that will help guide WSMA’s advocacy and operations moving forward, and ongoing status updates on the actions, visit our House of Delegates page.

The Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates (or the WSMA Annual Meeting) is the WSMA's premier policymaking event, when the 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 WSMA Annual Meeting

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 young physician delegate, one resident delegate, and three student delegates (one from each of the three medical schools in Washington state). Each county society has one delegate for every 50 members of the county society who are active or active limited 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 of Delegates 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.

Disclaimer

The WSMA may have a photographer 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, contact Milana McLead at milana@wsma.org or 206.956.3629

Exclusive Premier Partner

Founded in 1981 under the auspices of the WSMA, Physicians Insurance 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 Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic are part of Optum. Together, we’re building an integrated care model to offer personalized care with both onsite and virtual care options. We remain provider led, committed to our communities with more than 100 years of partnership, and dedicated to helping people live healthier lives.

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.

Resolve is your top source for employment contract review services and salary data. Whether you are signing your first employment contract, or renegotiating a current one, their team ensures your terms are fair.

WSMA Member News

Data pager
Data pager
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Item 1 to 3 of 20 Page:of 7 Page size:

Data pager
Data pager
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Item 1 to 3 of 20 Page:of 7 Page size:

Show all 20

action-alert-ask-your-reps-to-cosponsor-the-medicare-patient-access-and-practice-stabilization-act

Action Alert! Ask Your Reps to Cosponsor the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act

memo

Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/november-8/action-alert-ask-your-reps-to-cosponsor-the-medicare-patient-access-and-practice-stabilization-act

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2024/november/medicare-graphic-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Support Medicare Sustainability graphic" /></div> <h5>Nov. 8, 2024</h5>  <h2>Action Alert! Ask Your Representatives to Cosponsor the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2024</h2> <p>Recently, Reps. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 10073), bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the pending proposed 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payments and provide a 1.8% payment update in 2025. If passed, the legislation would result in a payment increase equal to one half the Medicare Economic Index, helping to stabilize physician practices and protecting patients' access to care.</p> <p>If you haven't yet done so, <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f108965%2fRespond">please contact your representative today and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 10073.</a> This week, the WSMA delivered official letters to Washington's congressional delegation urging that they act. In our letter, WSMA President John Bramhall, MD, PhD, articulates the consequences of inaction:</p> <p>"Physician practices cannot continue to absorb increasing costs while their payment rates dwindle. Both the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicare Trustees have issued warnings about access to care problems for America's seniors and persons with disabilities if the gap between what Medicare reimburses physicians and what it costs to provide high-quality care continues to grow.</p> <p>"Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians have significant ripple effects across our health care system, particularly in rural and underserved areas. At a time when the nation is facing a physician shortage and an historic number of doctors are nearing retirement age, these cuts seriously jeopardize access to care for Medicare patients."</p> <p>While H.R. 10073 would only address physician payment for 2025, it is a necessary first step in providing much-needed relief and achieving our ultimate goal of <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/medicare-payment-reform/wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/medicare-payment-reform.aspx?hkey=10dc3633-6786-4f04-b1dd-471482f70840">complete physician Medicare payment reform</a> in the new Congress. This will be the last opportunity for Congress to pass H.R. 10073 as part of the final year-end package. <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f108965%2fRespond">Please act today</a>.</p> </div>

11/7/2024 2:12:08 PM

11/7/2024 12:35:13 PM

11/8/2024 12:00:00 AM

blue-cross-blue-shield-settles-long-running-multibillion-dollar-antitrust-suit

Blue Cross Blue Shield Settles Long-Running Multibillion-Dollar Antitrust Suit

memo

Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/november-8/blue-cross-blue-shield-settles-long-running-multibillion-dollar-antitrust-suit

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2024/november/bill-oxford-oxghu60nwxu-unsplash-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="gavel" /></div> <h5>Nov. 8, 2024</h5>  <h2>Blue Cross Blue Shield Settles Long-Running Multibillion-Dollar Antitrust Suit </h2> <p>Blue Cross Blue Sheild has provisionally settled a decade-plus, multibillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of physicians, hospitals, and other practitioners in one of the largest such settlements in the history of the country's health care industry. The settlement includes a fund of $2.8 billion in cash earmarked for the plaintiffs as well as millions of dollars dedicated to system improvements to the insurer giant's BlueCard Program.</p> <p>In 2012, the plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield and its affiliates alleging the insurer colluded to divide geographic regions to avoid competition with each other and reduce reimbursements. Nationally, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes 33 independent, locally operated Blue Cross companies.</p> <p>In addition to the large damages fund, monies dedicated to system improvements will help address longstanding administrative issues with the BlueCard Program, among many other changes favorable to physician groups, hospitals, and other contracted entities.</p> <p>Specifics on eligibility for funds will be available once the preliminary settlement is approved by the court. Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates in Washington state include Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield. For more information on the case, <a href="https://whatleykallas.com/bcbs-settlement/">read the co-lead counsel's update</a>. <a href="https://whatleykallas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3192-2-Exhibit-A-Settlement-Agreement.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">The settlement agreement can be read here</a>.</p> </div>

11/7/2024 2:10:44 PM

11/7/2024 12:35:09 PM

11/8/2024 12:00:00 AM

carrie-horwitch-md-on-how-mastering-emotional-intelligence-can-benefit-all-clinicians

Carrie Horwitch, MD, on How Mastering Emotional Intelligence Can Benefit All Clinicians

memo

Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/november-8/carrie-horwitch-md-on-how-mastering-emotional-intelligence-can-benefit-all-clinicians

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2024/november/carrie-horwitch-eqi-course-video-still-no-button.png" class="pull-right" alt="Carrie Horwitch, MD" /></div> <h5>Nov. 8, 2024</h5> <h2>Carrie Horwitch, MD, on How Mastering Emotional Intelligence Can Benefit All Clinicians</h2> <p>As WSMA Foundation Vice President Carrie Horwitch, MD, explains in <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/transcending-clinical-excellence-mastering-emotional-intelligence.aspx?_zs=A3aFd1&amp;_zl=4tDr9">this brief video</a>, all clinicians, regardless of leadership experience or roles, can benefit from mastering emotional intelligence. Whether you're seeking to enhance your leadership abilities, strengthen your clinical relationships, or simply enrich your personal life, mastering the ability to recognize and regulate your own emotions while honing your empathy to better comprehend the feelings of others is key-and a new course from the WSMA Foundation is here to help.</p> <p>Enroll in <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMTcyMzI2MSZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA4MzYwJmxpPTExMTg0NTk4Ng/index.html">Transcending Clinical Excellence: Mastering Emotional Intelligence</a> and get ready to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and interpersonal growth. The course, held virtually on Fridays from Jan. 31-March 28, 2025, is longitudinal (your progress will be measured over time), and multimodal (the course features different methods of learning), allowing learners to have multiple touchpoints on different aspects of emotional intelligence, allowing for deep understanding and opportunities to apply skills in practice. The program is available to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and all other clinicians looking to increase their emotional intelligence, foster more meaningful connections, and resolve conflicts in the workplace empathetically.</p> <p>Learn more about this course and register on the <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMTcyMzI2MSZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA4MzYwJmxpPTExMTg0NTk4Ng/index.html">WSMA website</a>. This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em><sup>TM</sup>.</p> </div>

11/7/2024 2:20:21 PM

11/7/2024 12:35:22 PM

11/8/2024 12:00:00 AM

Join or renew your membership today!

Join/Renew

WSMA Annual Meeting

About the WSMA Annual Meeting

How the House of Delegates operates

Disclaimer

Corporate Partners and Meeting Exhibitors

Exclusive Premier Partner

Promoters

WSMA Member News

Meeting Location

Questions