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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.

Important meeting deadlines

Aug. 4
Reports and resolutions due for inclusion in delegate handbook.

Aug. 24
Final deadline for reports and resolutions. Resolutions received after this date must have the consent of two-thirds of the House at the opening session in order to be considered. Delegate handbook will be available for download.

Sept. 1
Deadline to make room reservations at The Westin Bellevue.

Sept. 23-24
The 2023 WSMA Annual Meeting.

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.

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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AMA Webinar: Protecting Patients from Inappropriate Scope of Practice Expansions

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/june-9/ama-webinar-protecting-patients-from-inappropriate-scope-of-practice-expansions

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/june/steth-warm-background-645x425.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="stethoscope laying on a cloth" /></div> <h5>June 9, 2023</h5> <h2>AMA Webinar: Protecting Patients from Inappropriate Scope of Practice Expansions</h2> <p>Patients deserve care led by physicians-the most highly educated, trained, and skilled health care professionals. Through research, advocacy, and education, organized medicine vigorously defends the practice of medicine against scope of practice expansions that threaten patient safety. In this new on-demand webinar, you'll learn more about the importance of these issues, with presenters from the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and our own Sean Graham, WSMA's director of government affairs. Included in the discussion are ways physician advocates can get involved. <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/about/events/ama-advocacy-insights-webinar-series-protecting-patients-inappropriate-scope-practice">Access the webinar and transcript from the AMA website</a>.</p> </div>

6/8/2023 2:43:56 PM

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6/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

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Volunteers Needed to Pilot Training Program on Caring for Ukrainian Refugees

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/june-9/volunteers-needed-to-pilot-training-program-on-caring-for-ukrainian-refugees

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/june/ukrainian-flag-645x425px.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="Ukrainian flag" /></div> <h5>June 9, 2023</h5> <h2>Volunteers Needed to Pilot Training Program on Caring for Ukrainian Refugees</h2> <p><em>The pilot period is July 1-15.</em></p> <p>The Washington State Department of Health is looking for physicians or physician assistants willing to help pilot a one-hour training for health professionals on connecting Ukrainian refugees with key services.</p> <p>The one-hour training will consist of six modules presented by content experts. The pilot period is July 1- 15. Volunteer pilot testers would go through the material at a time convenient for them during that window, then complete a short survey afterward.</p> <p>The training is titled, "Connecting with Ukrainian refugees: Meeting their needs with better care and key services." It covers how to work with Ukrainian refugees and connect them to key services. The training addresses:</p> <ul> <li>Strategies for building positive relationships with Ukrainian arrivals.</li> <li>Working with them to ensure they have met their vaccine and tuberculosis requirements.</li> <li>Screening for physical and mental health needs.</li> <li>Orienting them to the U.S. health care system.</li> <li>Providing information about available benefits and services.</li> </ul> <p>Once this course launches, it will be available online and offer continuing education credits.</p> <p>If you would like to volunteer as a tester, please contact Danielle Koenig with the Washington State Department of Health at <a href="mailto:Danielle.Koenig@doh.wa.gov">Danielle.Koenig@doh.wa.gov</a> or 360.280.4192.</p> </div>

6/8/2023 4:02:09 PM

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WSMA 2023 Interim Policy Agenda Takes Shape

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Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/june-9/wsma-2023-interim-policy-agenda-takes-shape

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2023/june/ls-2023-02-005-645x425px.jpeg" class="pull-right" alt="Washington state capitol building" /></div> <h5>June 9, 2023</h5> <h2>WSMA 2023 Interim Policy Agenda Takes Shape</h2> <p>While the Washington state legislative session has concluded, rulemaking season is just ramping up, along with new opportunities for direct advocacy for physicians and physician assistants.</p> <p>Bills that are signed into law, as well as executive orders, often require <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/advocacy/legislative_regulatory/understanding-the-regulatory-process.aspx?WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927">public rulemaking for implementation</a>. State agencies, boards, commissions, and the federal government all use rulemaking to decide the finer details of policies-details that may ultimately decide how the new law or order impacts physicians, physician assistants, and practices.</p> <p>The WSMA's policy department staff monitors and engages on rules impacting the house of medicine. During this year's rulemaking season, the WSMA will seek to implement our <a href="[@]WSMA/About/Policies/Whats_Our_Policy/Policy_Index.aspx">policy goals</a> through advocacy on a number of rulemakings at both the state and federal levels. These include:</p> <ul> <li>Improving patient safety by requiring accessible labeling for prescription medication.</li> <li>Civil and criminal protection for reproductive health care professionals.</li> <li>Critical flexibilities for medical assistants entering and reentering the workforce.</li> <li>A diaper benefit for families receiving temporary assistance.</li> <li>Improving interoperability and prior authorization process at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.</li> <li>Health equity continuing medical education for physicians and physician assistants.</li> <li>Telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for buprenorphine and other controlled substances.</li> <li>Scope of practice proposals for licensed midwives, dentists, naturopaths, and medical assistants.</li> </ul> <p>While not exhaustive of all the rulemakings on which WSMA's policy team engages, <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/legislative___regulatory/regulatory-priorities/wsma/advocacy/legislative_regulatory/regulatory-priorities.aspx?hkey=562242c2-5e6b-4b10-887d-7b7efce4645c">a list of our top regulatory priorities is available on the WSMA website</a>.</p> <p>The WSMA will keep you apprised of opportunities to comment on our top regulatory priorities. If you have thoughts on our advocacy efforts or feedback on any of our regulatory engagement, please contact <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">policy@wsma.org</a>.</p> </div>

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6/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

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WSMA Annual Meeting

Important meeting deadlines

About the WSMA Annual Meeting

About the House of Delegates

How the House of Delegates operates

Disclaimer

Corporate Partners and Meeting Exhibitors

Exclusive Premier Partner

Promoters

Meeting Exhibitors

GOLD EXHIBITOR

SILVER EXHIBITORS

WSMA Member News

Questions