| keeping-patients central-to-our-care | Keeping Patients Central to Our Care | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2025/keeping-patients central-to-our-care | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2025/january-february/cover-wsma-reports-1-janfeb-2025-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="January/February 2025 cover of WSMA Reports" /></div>
<h5>Jan. 15, 2025</h5>
<h2>
Keeping Patients Central to Our Care
</h2>
<h5>
<em>Members only; sign-in required.</em>
</h5>
<p>
By Rita Colorito
</p>
<p>
As health care braces for some seismic changes that may or may not come to pass, the WSMA remains steadfast in its mission to improve the lives of its members and the patients they serve. Just as any organization needs new energy to succeed and advance, so, too, does the WSMA.
</p>
<strong>
</strong>
<p>
Seven physicians joined WSMA's board WSMA board of trustees after elections held during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates last fall. These new board members joined with the understanding that they'll be dedicated to advocating for changes that make a real difference in health care delivery and workforce.
</p>
<p>
In 2025, much of that advocacy will be communicated publicly through a new WSMA campaign called Your Care Is at Our Core Our Core, conducted in partnership with the American Medical Association and informed by enthusiastic input from the WSMA board of trustees. Your Care Is at Our Core seeks to position physicians, through social media, traditional media, public service announcements, and more, as patients' No. 1 advocate. Further, the campaign aims to "seed the ground" for WSMA's policy advocacy through public messaging about our efforts to restore the patient-physician relationship.
</p>
<p>
The three prongs that make up the WSMA Your Care Is at Our Core campaign should be familiar to all WSMA members, as they're very much priorities that the WSMA has been invested in recent years:
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Access to care: </strong>Passing the 2025 Medicaid Access Program, WSMA's top budget priority.</li>
<li>
<strong>Administrative burden: </strong>Reforming prior authorization, WSMA's top administrative reform priority.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Health care work force: </strong>Supporting physician-led team-based care by ensuring physician expertise is guiding care decisions; by ensuring each clinician is able to work to the top of their respective license; and by guarding against those scope of practice expansions that endanger patient safety.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
Those may be the most publicly visible advocacy efforts in the year ahead, but the WSMA's menu of priorities for the profession is far more encompassing: practice sustainability (Medicare reform, advancing value-based care, primary care reform, influencing cost-of-care debates), workforce sustainability (reducing burnout, cultivating new, and supporting existing, physicians), health equity (reducing health inequities and supporting a more diverse physician workforce), social and technological issues (climate impacts on health, social determinants of health, artificial intelligence), and more. You could say the board of trustees has its work cut out for it.
</p>
<p>
<em>WSMA Reports</em> asked four of our new board members what motivated them to join the board and what they hope to accomplish, and we asked them to share a few words with our readers on what the new Your Care Is at Our Core campaign means to them.
</p>
<h3>
Meet Anukrati Shukla, MD
</h3>
<p>
An internal medicine and obesity medicine physician at Providence Internal Medicine Monroe, Dr. Shukla joined the WSMA in 2021, first contributing through her work with the association's Young Physician Section. She was elected by the 2024 House of Delegates to serve as young physician trustee on the WSMA board. She also recently submitted a letter to the editor, published in The Seattle Times, in support of the Medicaid Access Program.
</p>
<p>
"I saw the kind of work the staff does and what WSMA does, and I wanted to contribute more," she says of joining the board.
</p>
<p>
As an international medical school graduate, Dr. Shukla brings a unique lens to WSMA's advocacy. Her experience managing patients as a physician in India some 10 years ago stands in contrast to the paper work-fueled burnout she and many other physicians face in the U.S. It's why Dr. Shukla welcomes the opportunity to fight against prior authorization requirements.
</p>
<p>
In India, says Dr. Shukla, her patient-physician relationships were "pure connection." "You practice medicine. You make a diagnosis. You give the treatment, and there's no intermediary," she recalls. "And then I came here, and I see the hurdles, the repetitiveness and the redundancy of the work that has nothing to do with the actual medical care ... I was working more hours there, but I was somehow very satisfied. And here those barriers [to care] really, really drain you."
</p>
<p>
Getting to the heart of physician burnout is why Dr. Shukla also champions the WSMA's workforce initiatives. "We have to be innovative in solving workforce challenges. Physicians need to have a voice at the table," she says. "They have the knowledge and expertise to contribute to these solutions. And WSMA is a platform that provides the right voice for the right reasons."
</p>
<p>
As both a foreign-born physician and a woman of color, Dr. Shukla relishes the opportunity to help expand diversity in the workforce. "Diversity is the best thing that can happen to humankind. As a scientist, I see that in the microbiome. As a process improvement person, I see that diversity of thought is so important. You've got to have people with different experiences and different backgrounds to bring something creative [to solutions]," she says.
</p>
<p>
To that end, Dr. Shukla wants all WSMA members to speak up, to be active in some way to help change health care for the better. "If you don't have a seat at the table, then you're on the table," she says. "Whenever I hear somebody being helpless and being frustrated with the state of affairs that are today, I do remind them there is a right place and avenue where their concerns will be better heard."
</p>
<h3>
Meet Trace Julsen, MD
</h3>
<p>
The division chief of primary care at Providence Medical Group Spokane, Dr. Julsen was elected by the 2024 House of Delegates to serve as a trustee. He's been a WSMA member on and off throughout his 15-year career, rejoining last year to get more involved in political advocacy. Dr. Julsen's mentor, a strong supporter of the WSMA, encouraged him to join the board. "I think he saw that I had a lot of interest in doing things that aligned with the WSMA board," he says.
</p>
<p>
The board position also appealed to his current leadership role and long-standing commitment to health care reform. "I'm really passionate about reform and trying to make a change in primary care for our patients and for our care teams," says Dr. Julsen, who hopes to bring his experience as both a clinician and administrator to the board's decision-making.
</p>
<p>
As a primary care physician, Dr. Julsen's focus is on workforce wellness. "I'm worried about not being able to retain physicians or bring in new physicians to primary care. I'm worried about cuts to our training programs throughout Washington," he says. "So, a lot of the advocacy I would like to see or to work on is how we can support bringing in new physicians. How can we effect change so that our physicians don't feel burnt out with the insurance burdens that are placed on us? How can we make our work-life balance better, and at the same time, per the mission and vision and values of WSMA, how can we provide the best care to our patients at the maximum level that we can?"
</p>
<p>
Workforce wellness starts in making the medical profession attractive again. "When I'm recruiting a new grad out of residency, it is very different—the conversations—now than it was 10 years ago, of what they're hoping to have [in terms of work-life balance]," says Dr. Julsen.
</p>
<p>
From his leadership vantage point, Dr. Julsen feels there's less interest among college students today in becoming a physician, in large part because of the current health care system. "It's going to be really important for us to make sure we're bringing strong influence to future doctors, so supporting our medical schools and our residency programs and really trying to engage people," he says.
</p>
<p>
Ensuring a well workforce requires everyone's input. "It's really important for physicians to not just put their head down at work, but to actually speak up, join organizations where they can voice their concerns, their opinions, because that's the only way we're going to truly know what to do and how to fix things. Otherwise, we're just going to continue down the same pathway that we've been on," says Dr. Julsen.
</p>
<h3>
Meet Vivienne Meljen, MD
</h3>
<p>
An OB-GYN with SeaMarCommunity Health Center in Vancouver, Dr. Meljen was elected by the 2024 House of Delegates to serve as an American Medical Association alternate delegate.
</p>
<p>
"As an early career physician, I feel strongly that we need to be engaged in advocacy and in organized medicine. It's the only way to have the young physician voice help shape the system of service in the future," says Dr. Meljen, who graduated residency in 2021. "At the same time, we need to have the institutional knowledge from our more senior clinicians and work together as intergenerational teams to develop innovative solutions to today's challenges."
</p>
<p>
As an OB-GYN, Dr. Meljen is hyper aware of the challenges facing her profession and access to patient care. "It is no surprise to anyone that the world feels like it's a little bit on fire in health care. Right now, we've got physician shortages and physician career longevity decreasing for a lot of reasons. So, I feel like now more than ever, we need physician advocacy so that we can try to make changes in a system that's currently eroding our profession," she says.
</p>
<p>
In her work with the WSMA, Dr. Meljen is also focused on care for the underserved as well as health equity issues in general: She's been supportive of the Medicaid Access Program and the WSMA Foundation's Scholarship and Diversity Advancement Fund.
</p>
<p>
For her board role, Dr. Meljen wants to focus on increasing Medicaid reimbursement. In her work, she takes care of many patients with Medicaid who have difficulty accessing care because of their coverage or lack of meaningful coverage.
</p>
<p>
"A lot of organizations in our country and state are having to make the tough decision to not serve Medicaid patients because of the poor reimbursement," says Dr. Meljen. "Improving that reimbursement will help organizations, clinicians, and patients across the board. Doctors want to take care of these patients, the patients need us, and the system is getting in the way because it's incentivizing practices to see other patients with private insurance or financial means and steering doctors away from taking care of patients with Medicaid."
</p>
<h3>
Meet Stephanie Hansen, DO
</h3>
<p>
An internal medicine physician with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Dr. Hansen is joining the board as a first-time trustee. In another first, this year she celebrates 20 years as a practicing physician. Over the years, she's served in both clinician and leadership roles. As a current physician leader with a federally qualified health center in rural Central Washington, she brings her commitment and compassion to caring for an underserved population.
</p>
<p>
After joining the WSMA three years ago, Dr. Hansen wanted to find away to advocate for the patients and doctors she represents in her community. The Medicaid Access Program is essential to patients in rural communities like hers.
</p>
<p>
In her current and previous roles, Dr. Hansen has also seen firsthand how often prior authorizations can stymie care. "All of the initiatives are important, but my focus is really on prior authorization—how we can make a system that is better for both sides, both the payer side and us as practicing physicians, and improve that system for everyone," says Dr. Hansen.
</p>
<p>
Prior authorization often hits those in her community who can least afford it and doctors already stretched for time caring for them, says Dr. Hansen. "For those with managed Medicaid, many of the things we want to order for them require prior authorization. Having to go through these processes to try to get, whether it's medications covered or things such as imaging studies ... it definitely could be a more efficient process, especially with everything else primary care has to cover," she says.
</p>
<p>
Dr. Hansen encourages WSMA members to add their voice to the fight for a better health care landscape for all. "Everyone's voice matters," she says. And you don't have to serve on the board to help further WSMA's legislative priorities. "A lot of times it feels like there's not enough time, or that maybe someone else will do it instead, causing one not to be involved," says Dr. Hansen. "There are so many ways you can help, whether it's an email, a county society meeting, or by being a mentor to a new physician or colleague. Any of those things can help our profession stabilize, grow, and be ready for the future."
</p>
<p>
<em><strong>Rita Colorito </strong>is a freelance writer specializing in health care.</em>
</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the January/February 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 1/15/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| doctors-making-a-difference-mark-vossler-md | Doctors Making a Difference: Mark Vossler, MD | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2025/doctors-making-a-difference-mark-vossler-md | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2025/january-february/dmd-website-image-vossler-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Doctors Making a Difference: Mark Vossler, MD" /></div>
<h5>Jan. 14, 2025</h5>
<h2>Doctors Making a Difference: Mark Vossler, MD</h2>
<p>
For Mark Vossler, MD, a trip to Japan as a medical student set in motion a decades-long effort to create a healthy population through social change. As a past president and current treasurer of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and winner of a 2024 Grassroots Advocacy Apple Award from the WSMA, Dr. Vossler is working to make a difference through policies focused on climate change. He talked with <em>WSMA Reports</em> about the upcoming legislative session, what physicians can do to promote climate and economic equity in their practices, and more.
</p>
<h3>
</h3>
<p><em><strong>WSMA Reports:</strong></em><strong> How did you get involved with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility? </strong></p>
<p>
<em>Dr. Vossler: </em>I had the privilege of doing a research fellowship at the Radiations Effects Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan as a medical student. The science was focused on cell signaling in carcinogenesis in response to radiation, but the experience was much more than that. Being in Hiroshima, studying the impacts of nuclear war, and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park had a profound impact on me. When I returned to the U.S., I joined Physicians for Social Responsibility to speak out against nuclear weapons and to prevent what we cannot cure.</p>
<p>
<strong>Are there certain advocacy issues that are most important to you personally?</strong> </p>
<p>
Right now, I'm pretty focused on the health impacts of using gas for home heating and cooking. It turns out that there is limited awareness of the scope of the risk, even among physicians. I'm proud of the work that I did along with other concerned health professionals to help get state building codes passed that encouraged a transition off gas and to electric heating and cooking. Unfortunately, those gains are being set back by an initiative that just passed in the November election.</p>
<p>
<strong>Do you think physicians can play a unique role in advocating for policies that address climate change and its effects?</strong> </p>
<p>
Physicians have a unique role to play in advocacy, especially on issues that affect health. We are trusted by both the public and by elected officials. So long as we focus on being credible, truthful, and focused on human impacts, our input is taken very seriously. I feel it is an obligation of the physician to use their privilege to speak up on matters of public health. I am super grateful that the WSMA House of Delegates has passed resolutions calling for a reduction in emissions, acknowledging the health impacts of burning gas in the home, and for reducing climate impacts of the health care sector. This sends a very strong message to our electeds.</p>
<p><strong>What are your advocacy priorities for the upcoming legislative session?</strong> </p>
<p>
We are looking to pass a bill that would help hospitals and surgical centers reduce the greenhouse gas impacts of anesthesia. We have the backing of both the WSMA and the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists on this. We are also eager to pass the CURB Pollution Act. This would require state agencies to take cumulative community pollution burden into account in the permitting process.</p>
<p>
<strong>Are there any ways that physicians can take action in their daily practice on climate or economic inequity issues?</strong> </p>
<p>We need to be in the habit of understanding our patients' vulnerabilities to social determinants of health. Economic factors are a big deal. Inability to buy healthy foods, fill prescriptions, or afford housing has a tremendous impact on our patients' health. We need to also ask about preparedness for things like extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Making air filtration and cooling available to low-income households in our state will make a big difference on the health impacts of climate change.</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the January/February 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 1/14/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| member-spotlight-sung-won-kim-md | Member Spotlight: Sung-Won Kim, MD | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2025/member-spotlight-sung-won-kim-md | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2025/january-february/member-spotlight-website-image-kim-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Member Spotlight: Sung-Won Kim, MD" /></div>
<h5>Jan. 14, 2025</h5>
<h2> Member Spotlight: Sung-Won Kim, MD </h2>
<p>
<strong>Works at: </strong>ENT Associates, Olympia.</p>
<p><strong>In practice: </strong>13+ years.</p>
<p><strong>Specialty:</strong> Otolaryngology.</p>
<p><strong>Why WSMA:</strong> Three words: Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy. The WSMA works tirelessly to ensure that we have a voice in legislative matters that affect our practice. The WSMA lobbies for fair reimbursement rates and improved working conditions so I can focus on providing patient care. I can sip my tea in peace, secure in the knowledge the WSMA is fighting for our ability to practice medicine without constraints imposed by inadequate funding or bureaucratic burdens.
</p>
<p>
I love that the WSMA is trying to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare levels. Every legislative session, the WSMA works to oppose inappropriate scope-of-practice legislation, including expanding prescriptive powers of naturopaths to involve schedule II-IV controlled substances.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA also provides CME accreditation, which my subspecialty organization, Northwest Academy of Otolaryngology, uses for our annual meetings.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Proud moment in medicine:</strong> I love my job and feel proud about the difference we make in our patients' lives and the lives of those who love and care for them. But I also hate my job when I encounter systems that actively or passively restrict my ability to care for our patients. These systems can be modified. The WSMA is the organization to influence policy to protect our patients and our practice.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Top concerns in medicine: </strong> I worry about our ability to provide quality care to everyone when reimbursements are decreasing and the cost of providing high-quality health care is increasing. I am concerned more practices will stop seeing Medicaid patients and, at some point, Medicare patients. Health inequity is already a tremendous problem for vulnerable populations. Cuts to Medicare and the ridiculously low payments for services by Medicaid exacerbate the situation.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Why my specialty: </strong> I wanted to be a primary care physician in medical school. I was super interested in the idea that we can prevent disease and reduce morbidity with chronic care of disease. I started my clerkship rotations with primary care, and I absolutely hated it. It did not suit my personality and temperament. Getting excited about a 0.4 drop in A1C is something I could not muster. I was despondent. I was so confident I would be a primary care physician and now my world was upside down. Worse, my next rotation was in surgery, and surgeons have a bad reputation. But when I started my rotation, I knew I belonged. Not all surgeons deserve that bad reputation. Surgery was for me. In an otolaryngology clerkship in my fourth year of medical school, I realized that was the perfect combination of medical and behavioral management of chronic disease with surgery. Perfect for me.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Spare time: </strong>Spending time with my family. I have two boys, aged 15 and 12. They are fully engaged in sporting activities such that any free minute I have, I spend it with the logistics of sports: lacrosse, sailing, basketball, cross country, etc. Winter weekends are reserved for freezing on top of a mountain at White Pass, fearing for my life as I descend a mountain at unsafe speeds. Skiing: uncomfortable, frightening, and dangerous. But my wife and kids love it. So, I go.
</p>
<p>
<strong>What people might not know about me: </strong> While there are some secrets that must not be shared, one of mine is that if you recognize me in public and start to talk to me, I will probably not remember who you are, but I will pretend I do. </p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the January/February 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 1/14/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| alert_beware_of_scams_targeting_physicians | Alert: Beware of Scams Targeting Physicians | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/alert_beware_of_scams_targeting_physicians | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/Megaphone-Evergreen-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Urgent alert" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Alert: Beware of Scams Targeting Physicians</h2>
<p>According to the Washington Medical Commission, an ongoing fraud ring has been preying on physicians and health care practitioners. As noted in a December release: "The fraudulent behavior includes using the Washington Medical Commission phone number, email, and web URL; pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration agents; posing as a Department of Health officials in order to make [physicians] think they are in trouble with regulators or the law and may be in danger of discipline or loss of license.&nbsp;The scam involves using personal information to exploit you for money or information to execute scams on others."</p>
<p>For an example of the sophisticated approach the scammers are using, <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/newsletters/2025/redacted_scam_letter.pdf]">click here to view a version of the fraudulent letter that physicians have received in the mail</a>.</p>
<p>The commission stresses that they will not:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ask for money over the phone.</li>
<li>Ask you to fax or wire money.</li>
<li>Accept or ask you to use cryptocurrency.</li>
<li>Demand a response in less than 20 days.</li>
<li>Advise against speaking with a lawyer.</li>
<li>Request personal details, passwords, or social security numbers.</li>
<li>Threaten to take your license or suspend you if you don’t pay immediately.</li>
<li>Threaten to restrict your prescription privileges or “turn you in to the FDA or DEA†for not paying.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can read more about the scam in the recent <a href="https://wmc.wa.gov/resources/newsletter">commission newsletter</a>. Please share this information among your medical staff. For future questions or concerns, contact the commission at 360.236.2750.</p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| a-look-inside-the-2025-medicare-physician-payment-schedule | A Look Inside the 2025 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/a-look-inside-the-2025-medicare-physician-payment-schedule | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/medicare-istock-1047505000-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Medicare forms paper clipped together" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>A Look Inside the 2025 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule </h2>
<p>With Congress failing to stop the proposed cut to physicians' Medicare payments in its end-of-year health care package, the 2.83% cut contained in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' 2025 Medicare physician payment schedule is now in effect, making this the fifth straight year of cuts to physician payments. </p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/medicare-medicaid/inside-final-2025-medicare-physician-payment-schedule">late December update from the American Medical Association</a>, CMS has heard the advocacy from the house of medicine on the issue of tying payments to the Medicare Economic Index when calculating payment changes. The agency further acknowledged that the costs of care delivery for physicians will increase by 3.5% this year, per the MEI. CMS has said it will continue its delay in MEI reindexing until it analyzes the results from the AMA's fall 2024 practice information survey, as requested by the AMA. </p>
<p>The WSMA will continue to work with the AMA on supporting the broad reforms contained within the bipartisan <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2474/all-info">Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act</a>, which includes providing inflationary updates. We will keep members apprised of how they can best support these reforms in the weeks and months ahead. </p>
<h3>Bright spots in the Medicare final rule </h3>
<p>In some good news among the headline disappointments of the Medicare final rule: </p>
<ul>
<li>CMS will now permanently allow billing for telehealth services delivered via telephone or other audio-only devices in circumstances where the patient is not capable or does not consent to the use of audio-visual technology for the diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of mental health or substance use disorders, and for assessments of end-stage renal disease.</li>
<li>CMS also extended for one year:
<ul>
<li>Suspension of frequency limits on subsequent hospital and nursing facility telehealth visits. </li>
<li>The ability of teaching physicians to provide virtual direct supervision and virtual supervision of residents when the resident provides telehealth services. </li>
<li>Physicians providing telehealth from their homes do not have to report their home address to Medicare. </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Regarding the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, the Medicare final rule follows the suggestion from the AMA to keep thresholds for incurring a financial penalty unchanged due to the pandemic, meaning the same threshold will be maintained through calendar year 2025, which affects MIPS payments in 2027. </p>
<p>The final rule also addresses the G2211 code, which reimburses for office/outpatient visits with patients with complex health needs to encourage longitudinal care. Per <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mm13887-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule-summary-cy-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">the final rule</a>, CMS is finalizing payment starting Jan. 1, 2025, for HCPCS code G2211 when the same practitioner reports the O/O E/M base code on the same day as an annual wellness visit, vaccine administration, or any Part B preventive service. For more on the G code, <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/expanding-payment-for-the-g-code-to-commercial-payers.aspx">see this article in this week's Membership Memo</a>. </p>
<p>For more on the final rule, see <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/medicare-medicaid/inside-final-2025-medicare-physician-payment-schedule">this update</a> from the AMA and <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-2025-mpfs-summary.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">download a PDF of the AMA summary</a>. </p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| credentialing_freeze_in_february_apply_and_renew_in_january | Credentialing Freeze in February, Apply and Renew in January | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/credentialing_freeze_in_february_apply_and_renew_in_january | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/laptop_hands_steth-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Physician at laptop credentialing" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Credentialing Freeze in February, Apply and Renew in January</h2>
<p>With the launch of a new licensing system slated for mid-February, the Washington State Department of Health is strongly advising Washington's health professionals and facilities to consider applying or renewing early. You are able to renew your license or credential up to 90 days before your expiration date.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>The Department of Health will launch a new licensing system for Washington health professionals and facilities during the third week of February 2025. The Health Enforcement and Licensing Management System will help create efficiencies, improve user experience, streamline processing, strengthen data access, and reduce paper-based activities.</p>
<p>Ahead of the HELMS launch, all licensing and credentialing systems will be unavailable to make system upgrades. This freeze will be during President’s Day weekend from Friday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. until the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 19, to allow the department’s implementation team to transition data and launch the new system.</p>
<p>Although the freeze will only impact one business day, the change could impact health professionals and facilities, who are advised to apply early.</p>
<h3>What you need to know</h3>
<ul>
<li>Do not wait to renew your license or credential. Renew in January to avoid delays.</li>
<li>Finish applications ahead of the freeze and do not expect updates between Feb. 14-19.&nbsp;</li>
<li>No updates or changes will be made to licenses for health professionals and facilities during the freeze. Search tools like <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/provider-credential-search">Provider Credential Search</a> and <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/facilitysearch/">Facility Search</a> will still be available but will not be updated during the freeze.</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information on the licensing freeze and the new licensing system, please visit <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/">DOH.wa.gov</a>. You can find information about your specific profession or facility type within the <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates">Licenses, Permits, &amp; Certificates tab.</a></p>
<p>If you have questions or concerns regarding the licensing freeze, contact the HELMS team at <a href="mailto:HELMS@doh.wa.gov">HELMS@doh.wa.gov</a><a href="mailto:HELMS@doh.wa.gov">.</a></p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| department-of-health-rejects-naturopath-scope-of-practice-expansion-proposal | Department of Health Rejects Naturopath Scope of Practice Expansion Proposal | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/department-of-health-rejects-naturopath-scope-of-practice-expansion-proposal | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/naturopath-istock-497994012-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="green leaves on separate" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Department of Health Rejects Naturopath Scope of Practice Expansion Proposal </h2>
<p>The Washington State Department of Health has issued its final report to the Legislature responding to a Washington Naturopathic Physicians Association proposal to expand naturopaths' scope of practice to include the prescribing of controlled substances, among other procedures. Based on our cursory review, the final report is consistent with the department's <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/august-9/naturopath-proposal-preliminarily-rejected-by-doh">preliminary report</a> in rejecting the sunrise review proposal from the naturopaths. </p>
<h3>DOH recommendation to the Legislature, in short </h3>
<p>In the DOH report's executive summary, the department recommends the naturopath proposal not be enacted by the Legislature because it does not meet the criteria in RCW 18.120.010: </p>
<ul>
<li>The proposal does not demonstrate sufficient minimum education and training to safely prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances. Naturopathic programs have evolved to include more pharmacology focus. However, many of the courses that include pharmacology include topics that do not have foundations in the basic sciences that the other medical programs include, and pharmacology training on controlled substances is not standardized and consistent across programs. In addition, naturopathic clinical training can occur almost entirely in naturopathic clinics without exposure to a variety of providers, settings, and situations where they could experience treatment of patients on a broad array of controlled substances.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The other states that grant authority to prescribe controlled substances limit NDs to Schedules III-V or specific formularies and/or include safeguards such as collaboration with MDs, additional or continuing education, an additional pharmacology examination, or include MD or DO members on the naturopathic board or formulary advisory committee.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The proposed definition of "minor office procedures" is vague and subject to a wide range of interpretations. The department cannot evaluate adequate training without knowing what specific procedures would be included in this definition. </li>
</ul>
<p>Review the full report here: <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/648-078-NaturopathicScopeofPractice%20Sunrise.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Sunrise Review Naturopathic Physician Scope of Practice Report to the Legislature, December 2024</a>. The report's findings align with the physician community's advocacy, which urged the department to reject the proposal on the grounds that it would have jeopardized patient safety. The WSMA would like to thank you all for your engagement on this important issue. If you have questions about the sunrise review process or the final report, contact WSMA Director of Policy Jeb Shepard at <a href="mailto:jeb@wsma.org">jeb@wsma.org</a>.</p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| expanding-payment-for-the-g-code-to-commercial-payers | Expanding Payment for the 'G Code' to Commercial Payers | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/expanding-payment-for-the-g-code-to-commercial-payers | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/shutterstock-2033522243-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="male doctor and patient" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Expanding Payment for the 'G Code' to Commercial Payers </h2>
<p>The 2024 WSMA House of Delegates met in Spokane last year to discuss and debate over 40 resolutions impacting the practice of medicine, patient care, and state and federal health care policy. Among those adopted by the HOD was Resolution B-15 "Expanding Payment for Visit Complexity for Office/Other Outpatient Services to Commercial Payers": </p>
<p><em>RESOLVED, that the WSMA advocate for legislative, regulatory, and policy changes that will result in commercial payers recognizing and reimbursing the G2211 add-on code (New HOD Policy).</em> </p>
<p>The office/outpatient evaluation and management complexity add-on code is intended to improve payment for the time, intensity, and practice expense involved when physicians furnish office or other outpatient E/M services that enable them to build longitudinal relationships with patients. After a three-year delay, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented code G2211 on Jan. 1, 2024.</p>
<h3>WSMA's "G code" advocacy to date </h3>
<p>Shortly after adoption by Medicare, the WSMA urged commercial payers operating in Washington state to reimburse for the code-<a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/april-12/medicare-payment-update-using-the-new-medicare-g-code">some have adopted and are currently reimbursing</a>. Of our state's Medicaid program, we were recently told by the Health Care Authority that while several Medicaid managed care plans cover the code, others consider G2211, or the G code, a bundled code and do not reimburse separately. Medicaid fee-for-service does not currently cover it but the state is conducting preliminary modeling on coverage.</p>
<p>Spurred on by B-15, the WSMA will take additional steps this year to hasten adoption and payment of the G code, including outreach to the Health Care Authority, managed care plans, and commercial plans operating in our state, and throwing our support behind any proposals that materialize during the 2025 legislative session. </p>
<p>In the meantime, we urge you to review your contracts and payment policies to understand whether the carriers you contract with cover the G code and if so, the rate and requirements for billing, as they will vary by payer. </p>
<h3>G2211 in the 2025 Medicare fee schedule </h3>
<p>In the <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-25382.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule</a>, CMS is finalizing payment starting Jan. 1, 2025, for the G code when the same practitioner reports the O/O E/M base code on the same day as an: </p>
<ul>
<li>Annual wellness visit (AWV) </li>
<li>Vaccine administration </li>
<li>Any Part B preventive service </li>
</ul>
<p>If you are using this code, WSMA's policy department would appreciate hearing about your experiences to date, including barriers and key payers that are not currently reimbursing the code. Please email your feedback to <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">policy@wsma.org</a>.</p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| get_started_on_a_leadership_track_with_the_physician_leadership_course | Get Started on a Leadership Track with the Physician Leadership Course | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/get_started_on_a_leadership_track_with_the_physician_leadership_course | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/Smiling-Docs-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Physician leaders" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Get Started on a Leadership Track with the Physician Leadership Course</h2>
<p>Led by renowned instructor Ed Walker, MD, the WSMA Physician Leadership Course is a skills-development course for physicians and physician assistants who want to know more about health care leadership and develop core leadership competencies to strengthen resilience and achieve greater workflow efficiency.</p>
<p>The course combines face-to-face and online learning to enable participants to begin developing and honing their leadership skills at their convenience. Designed with a physician's busy schedule in mind, only three in-person classes are required; the remainder of the course is conducted online.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The first WSMA Physician Leadership Course of 2025 will be held Mar. 21–May 30, 2025. The first two in-person sessions will be held Friday and Saturday, Mar. 21 and 22 in person at the Financial Center Metropolitan Tract in Seattle. Course participants will then have 11 weeks of online instruction and interaction, finishing with a final in-person session on Friday, May 30, also in Seattle.</p>
<p>For a full course curriculum, information on CME and MOC credits, visit the <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/education/physician_leadership/physician_leadership_course/wsma/physician_leadership/physician_leadership_course/physician_leadership_course.aspx?hkey=efdc4ad1-ff20-4089-ab51-caafbe73572b&amp;WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927">course webpage</a>. The deadline for registration is Feb. 21.&nbsp;<a href="https://wsma.org/eventdetail?eventkey=PLC032125">Get started on your leadership journey and enroll today</a>.</p>
<p><em>Learn more about the course from Dr. Walker and hear what Physician Leadership Course graduates have to say about growing their leadership skills to drive positive change in health care in this </em><a href="https://player.vimeo.com/video/837228441?h=a7645ccf29"><em>brief five-minute video</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<h3>Other 2025 course dates</h3>
<p>To make sure we’re reaching as many physicians and physician assistants as possible with our cornerstone leadership development education, in 2025, we’re offering two additional options for our Physician Leadership Course: a second hybrid-format course in the fall and an all-virtual course in the fall.</p>
<ul>
<li>Physician Leadership Course (fall): Sept. 12–Nov. 21, 2025</li>
<li>Physician Leadership Course (fall – virtual): Oct. 3–Dec. 12, 2025</li>
</ul>
<p>Visit the <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/education/physician_leadership/physician_leadership_course/wsma/physician_leadership/physician_leadership_course/physician_leadership_course.aspx?hkey=efdc4ad1-ff20-4089-ab51-caafbe73572b">Physician Leadership Course webpage</a> and register for the schedule and format that fit your needs.</p>
<p>These activities have been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em>â„¢.</p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| multibillion-dollar-antitrust-settlement-in-blue-cross-blue-shield-case-granted-preliminary-approval | Multibillion-Dollar Antitrust Settlement in Blue Cross Blue Shield Case Granted Preliminary Approval | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/multibillion-dollar-antitrust-settlement-in-blue-cross-blue-shield-case-granted-preliminary-approval | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/bill-oxford-oxghu60nwxu-unsplash-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="gavel" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>Multibillion-Dollar Antitrust Settlement in Blue Cross Blue Shield Case Granted Preliminary Approval </h2>
<p>A federal district court in Alabama has preliminarily approved the <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/november-8/blue-cross-blue-shield-settles-long-running-multibillion-dollar-antitrust-suit">multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement</a> from a class-action lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield and its affiliates. The settlement includes a fund of $2.8 billion in cash earmarked for the plaintiffs, which include physicians, group practices, and health care facilities. </p>
<p>The court's decision, handed down on Dec. 6, advances the settlement to a final fairness hearing on July 29. </p>
<h3>Eligibility criteria now available; submit your claim by July 29 </h3>
<p>Specifics on eligibility for funds are now available on <a href="https://www.bcbsprovidersettlement.com/">a dedicated settlement website</a>. Physicians and physician groups are advised to review the eligibility criteria before submitting a claim. Class members who submit a valid approved claim will receive a payment from the settlement fund if the settlement is approved. Claims must be submitted <a href="https://www.bcbsprovidersettlement.com/Home">online</a> or mailed and postmarked by July 29, 2025. </p>
<h3>Background </h3>
<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. Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates in Washington state include Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield.</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>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> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| new_wsma_member_benefits_for_you_and_your_practice | New WSMA Member Benefits for You and Your Practice | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/january-10/new_wsma_member_benefits_for_you_and_your_practice | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/january/Sponsored-Content-Doctor-Illustration-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Washington capitol building" /></div>
<h5>January 10, 2025</h5>
<h2>New WSMA Member Benefits for You and Your Practice</h2>
<p>Being a member-driven organization, the WSMA is responsive to your needs. Over the past several months, we've been exploring partnerships to help our members both professionally and personally. At the jump are three key partners we are bringing to you with exclusive member benefits that will help you and your practice. Are there other services you need? Let WSMA's membership team know at <a href="mailto:membership@wsma.org">membership@wsma.org</a> and we will see what we can do to acquire more partnerships to benefit our members.</p>
<h3>Financial Planning, Wealth Management, and Retirement Services</h3>
<p>Based in Washington state, <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/why_join_the_wsma_/partners-in-medicine/northern-capital-management.aspx?_zs=HL9Ae1&amp;_zl=V2m0A">Northern Capital Management</a>* has supported the WSMA for 25 years in administering our employees’ 401(k) program, in addition to managing organizational investments. Their foundational belief is that, regardless of how much money someone has or where they are in their financial journey, NCM is able to bring expertise and guidance to maximize potential. We are collaborating with NCM so they can bring you robust financial services, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>A highly <strong>customizable financial planning service</strong> to address your specific needs and goals for a flat fee.</li>
<li><strong>Wealth management</strong> (including the above financial planning) to meet your investment objectives. WSMA members will receive a 10% discount on NCM’s standard rate.</li>
<li><strong>Retirement services</strong>: NCM’s affiliate, Northern Capital Retirement Services, can assist practices in determining a retirement plan based on your business size and needs, or manage the assets of a plan you may already have in place. WSMA members will receive a 10% discount on NCRS’s standard rate.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/why_join_the_wsma_/partners-in-medicine/northern-capital-management.aspx?_zs=A3aFd1&amp;_zl=V2m0A">Get help reaching your financial goals today with Northern Capital Management.</a></p>
<h3>Employment Contract Review and Negotiation</h3>
<p>In a recent survey of our members, a majority asked for help in reviewing physician employment contracts. To meet that need, we turned to <a href="https://go.resolve.com/wsma?utm_campaign=Washington%20State%20Medical%20Association&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=partner-page">Resolve</a>—physician contract review experts who can deliver this critical service by helping physicians review and negotiate employment contracts to maximize compensation, improve work/life balance, and guard against unexpected workplace changes.</p>
<p>Resolve is bringing change to employment contracts by providing transparency into the physician market. By utilizing the most accurate data on compensation and other contract terms, paired with a specialized legal team, Resolve provides the insights and expertise you need to negotiate for fair contracts and take control of your career. Their services are offered exclusively to WSMA members at a 10% discount.</p>
<p>In addition, if you act before Jan. 31, Resolve is running a special offer for WSMA members for an instant contract review. You can get your compensation analyzed instantly to see where you stack up against both the Medical Group Management Association's most recent survey as well as your colleagues’ contracts. You'll also get a free risk report that identifies problematic contract terms and explains how and why they should be negotiated. WSMA members receive a special<strong> holiday discount of $100 off through Jan. 31</strong> by using the code <strong>WSMAHolidayComp</strong>.</p>
<p><a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/why_join_the_wsma_/partners-in-medicine/resolve.aspx">Learn more about how Resolve can help you make the most of your employment agreements.</a></p>
<h3>WSMA World Elite Business Mastercard</h3>
<p>We are now offering a WSMA World Elite Business Mastercard®, a financial solution crafted to cater exclusively to the financial needs of physician practices in Washington.</p>
<p>WSMA’s physician practice members are spending up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, every year on operations, but may not be earning many tangible rewards or cash back on these expenses, which could be reinvested into savings or back into the practice.</p>
<p>This new benefit of WSMA membership offers unlimited 2.1% cash back on all of your purchases**, as well as 5% cash back on medical supplies and equipment**. Additionally, a $560 sign-on bonus can offset the cost of your WSMA membership dues**!</p>
<p>This card provides businesses with substantial cash-back rewards and a unique management platform that makes managing your finances simple. The card platform supports QuickBooks integration, and there are no annual fees, no employee card fees, and no impact on your personal credit when you apply. Visit the <a href="https://wsmacard.com/">card information page to apply today</a>, or <a href="mailto:onboarding@affiniti.finance">email Affiniti</a> to be introduced to a dedicated account executive to answer your questions. You can find out more <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/why_join_the_wsma_/partners-in-medicine/wsma-world-elite-business-mastercard.aspx?_zs=HL9Ae1&amp;_zl=c2m0A">here</a>.</p>
<p><em>* Washington State Medical Association is a client of Northern Capital Management and Northern Capital Retirement Services and receives compensation for promoting our services. As a result of the compensation arrangement there is an inherent conflict of interest.</em></p>
<p><em>**Important notice: Affiniti Finance, Inc. is the program manager of the WSMA World Elite Business Mastercard and is responsible for its operations, including but not limited to card issuance, rewards, management, and customer service. Cardholders are encouraged to review the comprehensive terms and conditions provided by Affiniti Finance, Inc., which can be </em><a href="https://affiniti.finance/legal/"><em>found here</em></a><em>. Affiniti Finance, Inc is not an FDIC-insured institution. WSMA World Elite Business Mastercard is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.</em></p>
</div> | 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-dec-27-2024-invest-in-access-to-care-for-patients | CEO Rounds: Dec. 27, 2024 - Invest in Access to Care for Patients | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-dec-27-2024-invest-in-access-to-care-for-patients | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2024-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds graphic" /></div>
<h5>December 27, 2024</h5>
<h2>'Invest in Access to Care for Patients:' Our Drumbeat Message in Light of Breaking Updates Unfavorable to Physicians</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
As we enjoy the glow of another Christmas past and chill the champagne for a new year, it's a great time to reflect as well as to look ahead.
</p>
<p>
In reflecting on last year, we are grateful-as always-for you and your membership in the WSMA. We count it a privilege to serve and support physicians of all stripes, from employed to independent practice, from urban to rural, from student to retired, and ranging across all specialties. With your membership, we are proud to be the largest physician professional organization in the state, having crossed a milestone threshold of more than 13,000 members in 2024.
</p>
<p>
In looking ahead, we have plenty of work to do in the new year. At the federal level, we closed out 2024 with Congress failing to act on Medicare, specifically failing to avert the 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payments that will start on Jan. 1, 2025. (Note: <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare-participation">Physicians have until Dec. 31, 2024 to decide if they want to continue to participate in the Medicare program in the coming year</a>.)
</p>
<p>
On the positive side, the final health care package included funding for an extension of pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities under Medicare that permit the delivery of certain virtual services to patients located in their homes. The extension, however, is only until March.
</p>
<p>
You can read more about the final package in <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/medicare-medicaid/congress-fails-stop-283-medicare-payment-cut-2025">this update from the American Medical Association</a>. The final bill signed into law by President Biden on Saturday, Dec. 21, can be found here: <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/10545/text#toc-H61EDF9841E6C43E8AC9148C59C153CF6">H.R.10545: American Relief Act, 2025</a>. We are disappointed that Congress failed to take action on the physician fee schedule and remain committed to advocating that it be addressed in the new year. Please stay tuned for more advocacy opportunities in 2025.
</p>
<p>
In Washington state, more clarity was offered this month on how some in leadership plan to address the state's massive budget hole (projected to be at least $12 billion). In his last act as governor, Jay Inslee released a budget package that relies on <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/gov-jay-inslee-pitches-wa-wealth-tax-and-business-tax-increases/">tax increases from the establishment of a wealth tax and an increase to the B&amp;O (business and occupation) tax</a>. How Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson orients to the proposal remains to be seen.
</p>
<p>
In the meantime, the WSMA continues to be a voice for physicians and their patients as we liaison with the governor-elect's transition team. Our message in those discussions remains consistent: We must continue to invest in access to care for patients.
</p>
<p>
We will have a legislative session preview webinar with Q&amp;A that will provide an overview of our 2025 advocacy agenda on Jan. 10 at noon-all are welcome to <a href="[@]wsma/events/upcoming-webinars/wsma/education/upcoming_webinars/Upcoming_Webinars.aspx?hkey=57af0f94-aa3b-4473-b22d-8f09981ccacb&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=2Rk0A">join the lunchtime session</a>. In addition, WSMA's annual advocacy day for physicians and physician assistants, the Legislative Summit, is Jan. 22. More details and registration can be found <a href="[@]wsma/events/legislative_summit/wsma/events/wsma_legislative_summit/legislative_summit.aspx?hkey=795731a5-79ba-45b0-b78b-b9dfbfc336e5&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=3Rk0A">here</a>. I hope you can join us in Olympia for this direct advocacy event.
</p>
<p>
In addition to advocating for better payment and improved access to care at both the federal and state level, the WSMA also represents the profession and your patients in the courts.
</p>
<p>
Over the course of several years and many hours of negotiations, the WSMA worked at the state and federal level to help shape balance billing laws that protected patients from bills they didn't expect while also seeking to ensure that physicians were adequately reimbursed for care they delivered. The laws are now in place, but the federal balance billing system isn't working as intended due to how the dispute resolution system has been implemented by regulators and taken advantage of by insurance carriers.
</p>
<p>
Many physician groups continue to experience delays with the independent dispute resolution system under the federal No Surprises Act, which was intended to make determinations on appropriate payment in circumstances where there isn't a contract in place between a physician and an insurance carrier. And maddeningly, even when IDR determinations are made, <a href="https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/no-surprises-act-2020-arbitration-independent-dispute-resolutions">in some cases insurance carriers are delaying or denying payment to physicians</a>. To make matters worse, <a href="https://radiologybusiness.com/topics/healthcare-management/healthcare-policy/physicians-hospitals-cry-foul-after-court-deems-no-surprises-act-decisions-unenforceable">a recent district court ruling found that IDR determinations are unenforceable</a>, meaning that physicians may not have legal recourse in those situations.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/no-surprises-act-fees-emergency-services-air-ambulances">Congressional legislation has recently been proposed</a> to remedy the situation and make it clear that insurance carriers have an obligation to pay their debts as directed by IDR, but we can't wait for an act of Congress for physicians to be paid. The WSMA has been in discussions with the AMA about potential class action lawsuits that could be brought against insurance carriers in Washington and other states to seek legal remedy-and payment-for this unacceptable situation. If you or your practice has been put in the circumstance of going through IDR only to see delayed or denied payment and you want to participate in this legal action, please <a href="mailto:jen@wsma.org">email me</a>.
</p>
<p>
And as the year draws to a close and you consider your year-end tax-deductible giving, I hope you will put the <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/thrive/2024/change-tomorrow-by-giving-today?_zs=HL9Ae1&amp;_zl=d9jx9">WSMA Scholarship Diversity and Advancement Fund</a> on your list. By donating to this scholarship endowment, you are not only supporting medical students at Washington's medical schools who are underrepresented in medicine, you'll also be contributing to a lasting legacy that lives on in tomorrow's physicians.
</p>
<p>
Thanks for all you do and happy new year!
</p>
</div> | 12/27/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| gov-inslee-releases-tax-budget-proposals-ahead-of-2025-session | Gov. Inslee Releases Tax, Budget Proposals Ahead of 2025 Session | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2024/december-19/gov-inslee-releases-tax-budget-proposals-ahead-of-2025-session | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2024/december/stethoscope-dollar-sign-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="stethascope in the shape of a dollar sign" /></div>
<h5>Dec. 19, 2024</h5>
<h2>Gov. Inslee Releases Tax, Budget Proposals Ahead of 2025 Session</h2>
<p>Gov. Jay Inslee released his <a href="https://ofm.wa.gov/budget/state-budgets/gov-inslees-proposed-2025-27-budgets/highlights">2025-27 biennium state budget proposal</a> on Tuesday, Dec. 17, the last of his administration as Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson takes office in January. While it is unclear at this time whether the incoming governor will endorse some or all of the elements included in Gov. Inslee's proposal, the substantive negotiations on the state budget will take place among state legislators during the 105-day 2025 legislative session, running from Jan. 13 to April 27.</p>
<p>The state's budget outlook sets the stage for one of the most daunting challenges that legislators have faced in recent years, as there is an estimated budget gap of $10-12 billion over the next four years. The last time the state was faced with such a significant budget deficit was during the Great Recession. A variety of factors are contributing to the projected shortfall, including forecasted state revenue collections increasing at a lower rate than recent years, increased utilization of state-funded programs like Medicaid, program maintenance costs, and new collective bargaining agreements.</p>
<p>Given the extent of the budget gap, state agencies were directed to identify potential budget savings options for consideration. The result of this exercise is available <a href="https://ofm.wa.gov/budget/state-budgets/state-agency-savings-options-fiscal-year-2025-and-2025-27-biennium">here</a>. Additionally, Gov. Inslee issued <a href="https://governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/directive/24-19%20-Freezes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">a directive</a> ordering a freeze on state agency hiring and other nondiscretionary and nonessential spending. As the state considers ways to address the shortfall, it is important to note that almost half the state budget is considered "protected," meaning those programs cannot be cut because they are required by the state constitution (e.g., K-12 basic education). As a result, a number of health care programs may be potentially vulnerable to cuts. </p>
<p>To address the projected budget gap, Gov. Inslee proposed tax increases, including the establishment of a 1% wealth tax on residents of the state with over $100 million in worldwide wealth to generate $3.4 billion annually and an increase to the state business &amp; occupation (B&amp;O) tax to raise around $700 million annually.</p>
<p>Full details of the B&amp;O tax increase proposal were not made available, but summary information released by the governor indicated that for businesses under the services category of the B&amp;O tax (including physician organizations), a temporary surcharge of 20% would be applied from Oct. 2025 to Dec. 2026, at which point the rate would revert to the pre-October 2025 level. And then starting in January 2027, all B&amp;O tax rates would be increased 10% in perpetuity. As we know, the state's current B&amp;O tax places a disproportionate burden on physician practices as legislators increased the rate of application from 1.5% to 1.75% on select businesses, including independent physician practices in 2019.</p>
<p>Democrats in the state Legislature have also been signaling interest in new revenue options to address the budget deficit, including the establishment of a statewide "high-earner" payroll tax styled after the <a href="https://www.seattle.gov/city-finance/business-taxes-and-licenses/seattle-taxes/payroll-expense-tax">city of Seattle's JumpStart tax</a>, which is levied on businesses with an annual payroll of $8.8 million or more and that employ individuals with annual compensation of $189,00 or more. That tax would be particularly impactful and concerning for the physician community. The WSMA will be engaged in budget discussions with legislators and will keep you apprised as we receive more details of tax and spending proposals being considered.</p>
<p>Other elements of Gov. Inslee's spending plan include continued support for behavioral health, programs to address the housing shortage and homelessness, and climate change initiatives. In the health care space, there are a number of proposals of note including the continuation of Cascade Care premium savings through 2026, grants for abortion providers to purchase state-acquired mifepristone, and a tele-buprenorphine hotline that facilitates access to opioid use disorder treatment medications.</p>
<p>WSMA's top budget priority for the 2025 legislative session is approval of the Medicaid Access Program, which leverages federal funding via a covered lives assessment to increase reimbursement rates across the board to Medicare equivalents (estimated at around $400 million annually). The WSMA developed a proposal that establishes its own funding source and does not rely on state dollars, which is critical given the state's budget picture. While the Medicaid Access Program or other Medicaid rate increases were not included in the governor's budget as expected, the WSMA will be advocating for its inclusion in the legislative budget proposals. Resources on ways you can support WSMA's advocacy on the Medicaid Access Program is <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/">available on our website</a>.</p>
<p>To learn more about what's at stake for the 2025 legislative session, join WSMA's government affairs team Friday, Jan. 10 at noon for a legislative preview webinar. <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwocO2spz8uEtYsOT3E93dreST3TmVl4WPx#/registration">Zoom registration is required</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">.</span> And don't forget <a href="[@]wsma/events/legislative_summit/wsma/events/wsma_legislative_summit/legislative_summit.aspx?hkey=795731a5-79ba-45b0-b78b-b9dfbfc336e5">to register for WSMA's Legislative Summit</a> on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the state Capitol - spots are filling up fast!</p>
</div> | 12/19/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| doctors-making-a-difference-michael-brush-md | Doctors Making a Difference: Michael Brush, MD | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2024/doctors-making-a-difference-michael-brush-md | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Doctors Making a Difference: Michael Brush MD graphic" src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2024/november-december/dmd-website-image-brush-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Dec. 16, 2024</h5>
<h2>
Doctors Making a Difference: Michael Brush, MD
</h2>
<p>
Through his volunteer work<strong>, </strong> Michael Brush, MD, an ophthalmologist at Kaiser Permanente, is working to provide free vision care to those without access through typical means. His work stretches around the globe from Ghana, where he provides surgical eye care, local training, and more through Cure Blindness Project, to the free Seattle King County Clinic here in his own backyard, where he serves as vision director. Dr. Brush talked with <em>WSMA Reports</em> about how he got involved in both organizations and how they provide care to the underserved.
</p>
<p>
<strong><em>WSMA Reports:</em> What prompted your interest in volunteering your medical services?</strong>
</p>
<p>
<em>Dr. Brush:</em> I began working with Cure Blindness Project due to a fellow resident from UW who has been involved with the organization for 20-plus years. I was always interested in the work that he was doing and when I reached a stable point in my career, I asked to be a part of one of the outreaches that was occurring in Ethiopia in 2015. From there, I have tried to spend 1-2 weeks a year volunteering; initially this was in Ethiopia, but since 2020 I have been working in Ghana.
</p>
<p>
My involvement with the Seattle King County Clinic came about from an email from a colleague at Kaiser Permanente asking me if I would be interested in helping run a volunteer vision clinic. I didn't quite know what I stepped into when I said yes, but the reward of clinic has been well worth the initial leap into the unknown.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Why did you choose those two organizations?</strong>
</p>
<p>
Both represent an aspect of global ophthalmology. Despite all the advances in eye care that can improve, restore, and save vision, not everyone has access to it. There are too many people in our country who lack access to insurance, and vision care is often not considered part of the medical side of health care. With the free clinic we can offer care to anyone who comes in the door and provide them with a full eye exam and a free pair of glasses during the annual four-day event.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Can you tell our readers a little about what the Cure Blindness Project does and who it serves? </strong>
</p>
<p>
There are an estimated 43 million people worldwide who suffer from blindness, but 80% of this burden is treatable or preventable. The majority of this occurs in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The mission of Cure Blindness Project is to help people retain or regain sight by enabling underserved communities to cure avoidable blindness by developing high-quality, cost-effective, sustainable eye care.
</p>
<p>
This is done through multiple approaches: Building local capacity with local training; supplying and building equipment and infrastructure; direct patient care through surgical outreaches; and prevention through education of community health workers regarding primary eye care.
</p>
<p>
<strong>What is the biggest challenge when providing medical care in Africa and the other countries where the program operates? </strong>
</p>
<p>
Each location has its challenges. Sometimes we work in very remote locations that have limited health care and during outreaches all the supplies to perform surgeries are brought in by bus, boat, horse, or on foot. Power may be sporadic; I've operated under a cell phone flashlight when power cut out. Specific to cataract surgery, the cataracts that we address are significantly worse that what we typically will see in the U.S., so how you approach the surgery is different.
</p>
<p>
In larger cities with training programs, working to improve education standards is important for making sure that residents, nurses, and technicians are able to receive both the knowledge as well as the hands-on training needed to provide the full range of ophthalmic care.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Has your volunteer work taught you anything about changes you think need to be made in the health care system as a whole? </strong>
</p>
<p>
I'm an advocate for the U.S. implementing a universal health care system that includes the full range of eye care glasses included. I believe that health care is a human right and no one should be deprived of it in a country as wealthy as ours.
</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the November/December 2024 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 12/16/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| understanding-policy-limits-settlement-demands-in-medical-malpractice-claims | Understanding Policy Limits Settlement Demands in Medical Malpractice Claims | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2024/understanding-policy-limits-settlement-demands-in-medical-malpractice-claims | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2024/july-august/cover-wsma-julyaug-2024-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA Reports July/August 2024 cover" /></div>
<h5>Dec.&nbsp;16, 2024</h5>
<h2>Understanding Policy Limits Settlement Demands in Medical Malpractice Claims</h2>
<p>
By Shauna Martin Ehlert
</p>
<p>
In the complex field of medical malpractice litigation<strong>,</strong> one common tactic used by plaintiffs' attorneys is the quick demand for settlement for the insurance policy limits. This approach can be stressful and intimidating for physicians and their insurers, as it aims to force a rapid settlement without a thorough investigation. Understanding this tactic and its implications is crucial for both physicians and attorneys.
</p>
<h3>Understanding the tactic</h3>
<p>
Attorneys often initiate this strategy by sending a demand letter in connection with the filing of a lawsuit. The letter typically insists that the physician's insurer settle the claim for the available policy limit within a specified period, typically 30 days. These letters may contain threats to seek amounts exceeding the policy limits and target the physician's personal assets, warn of time-consuming and stressful litigation, and raise the possibility of public embarrassment.
</p>
<p>
For example, a demand letter may take this approach: "Please inform Dr. X that this will be their only chance to gain protection from excess liability and pursuit of personal assets." Or, even more aggressively: "I will put my client in contact with the reality show 'Botched'. We'll see how that plays out." The obvious goal here is to instill fear, uncertainty, and doubt to push the physician and insurer into a quick and potentially unfavorable settlement.
</p>
<h3>What's behind early settlement demands</h3>
<p>
The main objective of early settlement demands is to use fear of the unknown to convince the defendant and their insurer to offer the policy limit as soon as possible. The early settlement demand is also designed to create risk to the insurer. In states such as Washington, if an insurer declines to make an early offer of the policy limit, the plaintiff's attorney may later argue that the insurer missed its chance and acted in bad faith. The goal is to create an argument that the insurer acted in bad faith by failing to settle early, and that therefore the insurer should be liable for amounts in excess of the policy limits. The practice is so common that some plaintiffs' lawyers have stated that it would be malpractice on their part if they did not attempt to set up the insurer for bad-faith exposure beyond the policy limits.
</p>
<h3>What happens if you settle early</h3>
<p>
There are several risks in meeting early settlement demands:
</p>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Insufficient time to evaluate merits.</strong> A quick settlement does not allow adequate time to evaluate a case's merits. Malpractice cases are inherently complex and require thorough investigation. This can take 12 to 24 months to ensure that relevant information is discovered.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Questionable justification.</strong> Settling quickly may not be justified by the case's facts. Without a thorough review, it can be challenging to determine whether a claim is meritorious.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Reputation and reporting.</strong> For physicians, a malpractice settlement leads to a report to the National Practitioner Data Bank and the state Department of Health. This can damage a physician's reputation and career.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Encouragement of repeat claims.</strong> Early settlements can make a physician and insurer look like an easy mark, encouraging repeat claims.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Increased insurance costs.</strong> Settlements can lead to increased costs for professional liability insurance, both for the physician and the broader industry.
</li>
</ol>
<h3>Financial implications for plaintiffs' attorneys</h3>
<p>
Most plaintiffs' attorneys work on a contingency basis, typically receiving 30ñ50% of the settlement amount. For a $1 million policy limits settlement, the attorney's fee could range from $300,000 to $500,000, plus out-of-pocket costs. This leaves the patient/client with a fraction of the settlement amount. Quick settlements also mean less work for plaintiffs' attorneys, giving them a powerful financial incentive to demand an early resolution.
</p>
<h3>The importance of complete investigations</h3>
<p>
Medical malpractice cases are inevitably complex. Because of that, a complete investigation is essential. Demand letters often come as a surprise to both the physician and their insurer. The insurer needs time to digest the allegations, review medical records, and talk to its own experts. A thorough investigation helps in understanding whether the claim is valid and determining the extent of any potential liability.
</p>
<p>
Many medical malpractice policies require the insurer to obtain the physician's consent before settling. This provision helps ensure open communication and partnership between the insurer and the physician, protecting the physician's interests. Early settlement demands seek to undermine this partnership by creating a sense of urgency and fear.
</p>
<h3>Coping with high-pressure settlement demands</h3>
<p>
It is crucial for physicians and their attorneys to understand early settlement demands, and to respond appropriately.
</p>
<p>
This means staying informed and understanding that early settlement demands are a common tactic. Moreover, at times like this it is important to rely on your insurer, defense counsel, and retained experts, who are experienced in evaluating claims. They will work to evaluate your case and determine the appropriate course of action. For example, if potential liability exists, a defense counsel and the insurer may recommend early mediation. This allows a thorough discussion of the facts and can lead to a fairer and more informed settlement.
</p>
<p>
While the pressure to settle quickly can be intense, it is often in the best interest of physicians to allow time to fully evaluate early settlement demands. An investigation and a measured response can lead to a more favorable outcome, protecting both the physician's professional reputation and their monetary interests. By understanding and navigating these tactics, physicians can ensure they are making the right decision when faced with medical malpractice claims.
</p>
<p>
<em>Shauna Martin Ehlert</em><em> is an attorney at Cozen O'Connor in Seattle specializing in professional liability claims and insurance coverage disputes.</em></p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the November/December 2024 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 12/16/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| national-hispanic-medical-association-advancing-physician-leaders-fellowship-program | National Hispanic Medical Association Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship Program | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/december-13/national-hispanic-medical-association-advancing-physician-leaders-fellowship-program | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2024/december/nhma-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="NHMA Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship logo" /></div>
<h5>Dec. 13, 2024</h5>
<h2>National Hispanic Medical Association Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship Program<span style="font-size: 14px;"></span></h2>
<p>Despite Hispanics/Latinos constituting 20% of the U.S. population, the representation in key health care leadership roles is significantly lower. Only 7% of physicians, 4% of medical school leadership, and 2% of hospital leadership are Hispanic/Latino. The National Hispanic Medical Association is committed to promoting the growth and advancement of Hispanic physician leaders and is excited to announce the opening of applications for our 2025 Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.nhmaphysicianleaders.org/">2025 Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship</a> is a 12-month program specifically designed for early- and mid-career physicians who are eager to enhance their leadership skills and engage in advocacy and policy actions that promote health equity.</p>
<p>Through a combination of in-person and virtual sessions, participants will engage with key policymakers, meet with government health agencies, and collaborate with fellow leaders in the field. The fellowship culminates in a capstone project focused on improving health outcomes in the Latine community.</p>
<p>By joining this program, you will become part of a network of over 200 Hispanic physicians who have made significant impacts in health care. This is an excellent opportunity to elevate your career and help shape the future of health policy.</p>
<p>Eligibility requirements:</p>
<ul>
<li>U.S. licensed physician with at least 3 years post-training.</li>
<li>Strong interest in becoming a transformative health care leader.</li>
<li>Leadership experience with a commitment to serving the Latino community.</li>
<li>Interest in public health and health policy at federal, state, and local levels.</li>
<li>Commitment to improving health outcomes in the Latino community through advocacy and active collaboration with your institution.</li>
<li>Membership with NHMA (or willingness to become a member).</li>
</ul>
<p>If you would like to be considered for the program, please <a href="https://www.nhmaphysicianleaders.org/about">apply online</a> by Jan. 8, 2025. For more details or questions about the program, please contact Viviana Garcia at <a href="mailto:vgarcia@nhmamd.org">vgarcia@nhmamd.org</a>.</p>
</div> | 12/13/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| physician-practices-meet-your-doh-immunization-liaison | Physician Practices: Meet Your DOH Immunization Liaison | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2024/december-13/physician-practices-meet-your-doh-immunization-liaison | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2024/december/patient-doctor-vaccine-masks-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Patient receiving vaccine" /></div>
<h5>Dec. 13, 2024</h5>
<!-- **************************NEW ARTICLE****************************** -->
<h2>Physician Practices: Meet Your DOH Immunization Liaison</h2>
<p>This month, the Washington State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations issued a reminder to the physician community of the availability of personalized guidance through its immunization resources via a dedicated immunization liaison. The liaison can help connect practices with DOH programs, provide practices with information on vaccines, and answer any questions practices have related to immunizations in general.</p>
<p>Part of the DOH's Immunization Liaison Team, Cheryl Ann Barnes, MPH, is your contact for immunization assistance. Practices may contact Cheryl directly at <a href="mailto:cherylann.barnes@doh.wa.gov">cherylann.barnes@doh.wa.gov</a>. Additionally, her team has a dedicated mailbox for physicians and practice staff at <a href="mailto:OIProviderSupport@doh.wa.gov">OIProviderSupport@doh.wa.gov</a>, where you can send your inquiries. Health care practitioners or practice staff are encouraged to sign up for this newsletter: <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new">Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses Newsletter Sign Up</a>.</p>
<p>As a reminder, be sure your practice is aware of these Department of Health immunization resources.</p>
<h3>Immunization resources from the Department of Health</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.immunize.org/">Home | Immunize.org</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.immunize.org/clinical/topic/standing-orders-templates/">Clinical Resources: Standing Orders Templates | Immunize.org</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://myirmobile.com/">MyIRMobile - MyIR Mobile</a> (Immunization Records) </li>
<li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/index.html">Immunization Schedules | Vaccines &amp; Immunizations | CDC</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/health-care-providers/power-providers-pop-initiative/power-providers-webinars">Webinars | Washington State Department of Health</a> </li>
</ul>
<h3>Department of Health programs offering publicly supplied vaccines</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/public-health-system-resources-and-services/immunization/childhood-vaccine-program">Childhood Vaccine Program</a></li>
<li><a href="https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/public-health-system-resources-and-services/immunization/adult-vaccine-program">Washington State Adult Vaccine Program</a></li>
<li><a href="https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/care-van-mobile-health-services">Care-a-Van Mobile Health Services</a></li>
</ul>
</div> | 12/13/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| change-tomorrow-by-giving-today | Change Tomorrow by Giving Today | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/thrive/2024/change-tomorrow-by-giving-today | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/thrive/2024/foundation-scholarship-graphic-purple-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Scholarship and Diversity Advancement Fund graphic" /></div>
<h5>December 11, 2024</h5>
<h2>Change Tomorrow by Giving Today</h2>
<p>
<em>Supporting future physicians in medical school</em>
</p>
<p>
Casting a vision for a future where Washington's physician population mirrors the population it serves, the WSMA Foundation's board of directors launched the Scholarship and Diversity Advancement Fund in late 2022.
</p>
<p>
Our fundraising efforts continue, with donations from the WSMA, the WSMA Foundation, Physicians Insurance, Foundation board members, WSMA board members, and many WSMA members and other interested supporters bringing the endowment fund total to $1.25 million to date.
</p>
<p>
At its recent meeting, the Foundation board committed to distributing scholarships as soon as possible, with an eye toward providing its first scholarship for the 2026 school year. To offer a significant five-figure scholarship, fundraising is depending upon a grassroots funding effort to push the fund to $1.5 million by June 2025.
</p>
<p>
"We are getting back to our first principles with this fund," says Mika Sinanan, MD, PhD, WSMA Foundation board president. "We know that the best care-the most effective care, care that reaches people in disadvantaged communities-is provided by a health care community that looks like their patients and represents their values and background." To that end, the board redoubled its efforts to push the fund to $1.5 million by adding $250,000 of the foundation's reserves to the endowment.
</p>
<p>
By donating to this scholarship endowment, you are not only supporting medical students at Washington's medical schools who are underrepresented in medicine, you'll also be contributing to a lasting legacy that lives on in tomorrow's physicians.
</p>
<p>
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him." Today, you can help us be the change that we wish to see in the world. <strong>With every WSMA member making a donation today, the fund would quickly achieve the goal of providing one or more scholarships by 2026.</strong>
</p>
<p>
It's easy to donate: Visit <a href="https://foundation.wsma.org/">foundation.wsma.org</a> to make a donation immediately.
</p>
<h3>What People Are Saying About the Fund</h3>
<blockquote class="Quote">
"For many, the dream to become a physician remains just that, due to the exorbitant cost of the educational path to this hallowed profession. Scholarships like this help level the playing field and give students a chance at a profession they otherwise might not have had. It reduces the pressure of the cost and lets them focus on the medicine. It helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who understand the challenges their communities face, receive an education that will allow many to return and help overcome them. It means physicians who are empowered and not indebted when they face the injustices of the system. It means more and different stories and voices in the lecture hall and the bedside. It means patients smiling back at their physician because they have a similar lived experience and 'get it.' It means the world. It did to me and to every woman I care for."
</blockquote>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-lg-2">
<p><img alt="" src="/images/Newsletters/thrive/2024/vivienne-meljen-round.png" style="width: 125px;" /></p>
</div>
<div class="col-lg-10">
<p>
- Vivienne Meljen, MD, Vancouver OB-GYN
</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="Quote">
"For too many years, aspiring medical students that are currently underrepresented and disadvantaged have faced financial barriers and other challenges in fulfilling their dream of becoming physicians. At the same time, we have too many communities that are medically underserved. This innovative fund is designed to make an immediate, tangible difference in Washington state, which is why I am so excited and passionate about helping bring it to fruition. I hope every WSMA member can make a contribution to the endowment."
</blockquote>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-lg-2">
<p><img alt="" src="/images/Newsletters/thrive/2024/steve-tarnoff-wpmg-round.png" style="width: 125px;" /></p>
</div>
<div class="col-lg-10">
<p>
- Steve Tarnoff, MD, President and Executive Medical Director of the Washington Permanente Medical Group
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div> | 12/11/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| health-equity-m-and-m-series-concludes-members-encouraged-to-start-their-own | Health Equity M&M Series Concludes, Members Encouraged to Start Their Own | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/thrive/2024/health-equity-m-and-m-series-concludes-members-encouraged-to-start-their-own | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/thrive/2024/mm-equity-webinar-series-2024-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA's Health Equity M&amp;M webinars led by Edwin Lindo, JD graphic" /></div>
<h5>December 11, 2024</h5>
<!-- **************************NEW ARTICLE****************************** -->
<h2>Health Equity M&amp;M Series Concludes, Members Encouraged to Start Their Own </h2>
<p>
Join us for one final rich discussion-and consider holding your own sessions
</p>
<p>
The WSMA's Health Equity M&amp;M webinars led by Edwin Lindo, JD, have one remaining session in 2024 held on Dec. 20, from noon-1 p.m. Think "morbidity and mortality," but with a focus on health equity: These discussions provide a framework for recognizing and examining our biases and identifying the ways systemic racism exists within our organizations. Attendees learn to think critically and identify when to advocate for patients from historically marginalized communities to help ensure they receive the highest-quality clinical care.
</p>
<p>
Health equity M&amp;Ms foster a space conducive to building a community of professionals focused on achieving health equity, allowing for discussions of charged but necessary topics. "The question about whether our actions are perpetuating systemic harm is such an important one," noted one attendee. "I will ask this when reviewing cases and even in the moment during interactions."
</p>
<p>
If you haven't yet joined these discussions, we encourage you to do so for our final session (registration is available on our <a href="[@]wsma/education/upcoming_webinars/wsma/education/upcoming_webinars/Upcoming_Webinars.aspx?hkey=b760d6bd-1833-412d-b681-babf251792a8">Upcoming Webinars</a> page).
</p>
<h3>Holding Your Own Health Equity M&amp;M</h3>
<p>
As the series concludes, WSMA members are encouraged to lean in to what they've learned from these discussions and consider launching a health equity M&amp;M series within their practice setting or organization.
</p>
<p>
Under the guidance of Lindo, the WSMA Foundation offers detailed instructions on how to launch your own health equity M&amp;M series.
</p>
<ul>
<li>How to determine if your organization is ready and equipped for these sessions.</li>
<li>How to identify a facilitator.</li>
<li>Establishing a process for collecting topic ideas and cases.</li>
<li>Establishing group goals and ground rules.</li>
<li>Establishing the questions you'll use consistently across all cases to frame the discussion.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Find guidance on starting your own health equity M&amp;M on the WSMA website, in the <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/health-equity/holding-your-own-health-equity-m-and-m/wsma/foundation/health-equity/holding-your-own-health-equity-m-and-m.aspx?hkey=622c30dc-c687-4756-87a7-fcdf3c8a48af">WSMA Foundation section</a>.
</p>
</div> | 12/11/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| introducing-the-physician-and-practitioner-wellness-podcast | Introducing the Physician and Practitioner Wellness Podcast | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/thrive/2024/introducing-the-physician-and-practitioner-wellness-podcast | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/thrive/2024/rupixen-com-3I41s9-BMro-unsplash.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="EarPods headphone" /></div>
<h5>December 11, 2024</h5>
<h2>Introducing the Physician and Practitioner Wellness Podcast</h2>
<p>
<em>Available to all physicians and practitioners. CME available.</em>
</p>
<p>
The WSMA Foundation is pleased to announce that, starting in 2025, individual sessions from our Physician and Practitioner Wellness Webinar Series will now be available as enduring CME podcasts, accessible when and where you want.
</p>
<p>
Like the webinar series, the Physician and Practitioner Wellness Podcast provides resources on topics such as creating a culture of wellness, creating effective teams, and drawing on evidence-based work on wellness. Podcast topics are identified as critical for physicians, practitioners, and their health care organizations to commit to prioritizing wellness and aligning their efforts to reduce burnout and improve professional satisfaction. Each episode is moderated by a member of the WSMA and WSMA Foundation Wellness Committee.
</p>
<p>
The podcast is free and open to all practitioner types. You'll find podcast episodes on our podcast channel, WSMA Podcasts, available through <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsma-podcasts/id1702920307">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0PBMBLgHr6e0X3OaMjyJON?si=52073329b89c4af1">Spotify</a>, or in our <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/wsma/foundation/physician-and-practitioner-wellness/physician-and-practitioner-wellness.aspx?hkey=3d237805-2558-404b-99b9-1108bb8a0292">Physician and Practitioner Wellness web section</a>, starting in late January.
</p>
<p>
These activities are approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em><sup>TM</sup>.
</p>
<p>
<strong>And join us virtually each month for our wellness webinars!</strong>
</p>
<p>
For those wishing to participate in person and engage in these robust discussions, join us on the second Monday of each month at noon for our ongoing Physician and Practitioner Wellness Webinar Series, a monthly educational session hosted by the WSMA and the WSMA Foundation. The webinars are free and open to everyone.
</p>
<p>
This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em><sup>TM</sup>. <a href="[@]wsma/education/upcoming_webinars/Upcoming_Webinars.aspx">Register online</a> to join the Physician and Practitioner Wellness Webinar Series.
</p>
</div> | 12/11/2024 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |