| ceo-rounds-october-16-2025-welcoming-a-new-ceo-and-president-at-physicians-insurance | CEO Rounds: Oct. 16, 2025 - Welcoming a New CEO and President at Physicians Insurance | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-october-16-2025-welcoming-a-new-ceo-and-president-at-physicians-insurance | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds with Jennifer Hanscom graphic" /></div>
<h5>Oct. 16, 2025</h5>
<h2>Welcoming a New CEO and President at Physicians Insurance</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
As many of you know, the WSMA has a long-standing and foundational relationship with Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company, the medical professional liability insurance company we helped to establish in 1981. I have had the privilege of serving alongside Dr. David Carlson on the PI board for the past seven years, and I’m delighted to share the news of his election as the company’s next president and CEO. His deep understanding of the physician experience, combined with his principled leadership, will serve our community well. Please read <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/WSMA/data/images/Attachments/WSMA-LETTER-FROM-PI.pdf">this message from Shane Macaulay, MD</a>, chair of the board of Physicians Insurance, for more details.
</p>
</div> | 10/16/2025 9:47:17 AM | 10/16/2025 9:44:47 AM | 10/16/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-sept-24-2025-rebuilding-a-brighter-future-for-medicine | CEO Rounds: Sept. 24, 2025 - Rebuilding a Brighter Future for Medicine | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-sept-24-2025-rebuilding-a-brighter-future-for-medicine | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-bush-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds: Bridgit Bush, MD, FASA" /></div>
<h5>Sept. 24, 2025</h5>
<h2>Rebuilding a Brighter Future for Medicine</h2>
<p>
<em>Bridget Bush, MD, on regaining her purpose one tree at a time, saying 'yes,' and building community in her inaugural address at the WSMA House of Delegates on Sunday, Sept. 21. Read an edited transcription below or <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjExMjkwMSZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA4MzYxJmxpPTExNzkwNzU1Nw/index.html">watch the video of Dr. Bush's speech</a>.</em>
</p>
<p>
Good morning!
</p>
<p>
Let me first say that I am so honored to be standing here before you today. I am proud to be part of such an incredible organization. And I am encouraged by all the wonderful things I have heard so far at this House of Delegates. We are ready for the year ahead of us no matter what the challenges!
</p>
<p>
I thought I'd kick things off this morning with a personal story.
</p>
<p>
You may have noticed I have a tattoo here on my left arm. It says "To sleep perchance to dream."
</p>
<p>
Can anyone tell me where that's from?
</p>
<p>
This quote is from Hamlet's soliloquy starting: "To be or not to be...," where he's debating the merits of suicide.
</p>
<p>
So, why would I choose this quote?
</p>
<p>
Well, many people who see it take it as something to do with anesthesia-I am, after all, an anesthesiologist and I do encourage my patients to think of a good dream as they are going under. Some people think I have it because I'm a Shakespeare nerd or worse just saw it in a meme somewhere. Others, especially those who recognize where it's from, seem to understand best, and also get a little nervous for me, which is fair.
</p>
<p>
The truth is, I love art. And it's also true that I have-as many of you have-wrangled with burnout, vulnerability, PTSD, even thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
</p>
<p>
I got this tattoo during my residency years-you know how hard that time can be. I knew if I had art on my arm, then I wouldn't hurt it. This tattoo became a physical barrier, an emotional protection to remind me that, no, you can't hurt the art.
</p>
<p>
I'm sharing this with you because we are facing a time of great stress, where things are being torn down in our profession. And we are not just responding to the immediate crisis of things being torn away. We are dealing with the trauma of it, the intended and unintended consequences that impact our ability to care for our patients. And all of that hurts us.
</p>
<p>
We need to look at rebuilding a new and, hopefully, brighter future for medicine. One of the places we can start is by focusing on the mental health issues that plague physicians in these hard times. We need community-with each other-now more than ever.
</p>
<p>
You'll hear me lament the disappearance of the "doctors' lounge." In the old days, doctors didn't necessarily rush home, they stayed at the hospital for an extra hour, having a break with their colleagues, discussing the day. They were able to decompress with other people who understood what they were going through-even if they were in a different specialty, they still understood. There was understanding in the community, you weren't alone in your experience.
</p>
<p>
But now, as we all know too well, the demands of our lives are different. We're charting for hours afterwards, feeling alone in our experience, and then we rush headlong into our home responsibilities where we don't want to burden our family with the hurts of the day. You push it down, you feel alone.
</p>
<p>
As for me, finding my community-here at the WSMA and in other places-made all the difference. I believe if we are able to build community together, we can get rid of that loneliness and find purpose in our shared experience.
</p>
<p>
With all the challenges we face today in health care, we need to remember our why-what's our purpose, why are we even doing this work? I believe standing together in community is more important now than ever-both for our own wellness and sanity, but also for the health and well-being of our patients and our profession.
</p>
<p>
Through the WSMA, together we are able to take a strong public stand for our profession, for the principles of medical ethics, evidence-based medicine, and the science that supports it.
</p>
<p>
I'm sure you've experienced, as I have, an erosion of trust in our relationships with our patients. We know firsthand that time spent listening to, responding to, and treating patients is essential in providing the quality care they deserve. Our patients put their very lives in our hands. Knowing what's at stake, the WSMA is a resource, providing accurate, evidence-based information to help you care for your patients. And we have fought to keep access to that information on a national level.
</p>
<p>
Maintaining meaningful relationships is necessary to build trust and provide the most effective care and treatment. In fact, trust is at the very core of the physician-patient relationship. Our best days come when we are partnering with our patients, facing challenges head-on and providing support to them in their health journey.
</p>
<p>
We committed to years of medical school and residency training in order to learn to build connections with, treat, and heal our patients. Every day, we aim to provide the highest quality of care-it's what all those hours and all of that training prepared us for. This is our calling, it's what drives us every day.
</p>
<p>
That care is at our core, to use the words of our AMA campaign-and as we see things being torn down, we need to be farsighted in our intention for the future. We need a plan for rebuilding, for creating a better future in health care-and I believe the key to that plan here in our state is the WSMA. Through the WSMA, through our specialty societies and our county medical societies we can create community, to connect, decompress, and rid ourselves of the sense that we're alone in the challenges. We are stronger together.
</p>
<p>
Now, I'm pretty much an open book, so I'll share with you that I have suffered with depression and PTSD since I was in the military. I've even been suicidal. At times, I've lost my "why" in medicine.
</p>
<p>
During the pandemic, I knew I had to regain my purpose. I started with what I could control-I decided to take little steps to make the world around me better. My thought was that if I created positive change, that could be a reason to exist: leaving the world better than I found it.
</p>
<p>
I started small. Well, by small, I mean I started in my own backyard literally. I planted a few hundred trees-for real, on my acre. I tried to emulate the forest in Anacortes that brought me peace while I was living there on active duty. I loved the idea that through the trees and the oxygen they provide, that I was giving back to the planet. Also planting cedars and hemlocks which were likely to far outlive me has a certain satisfaction to it.
</p>
<p>
From there, I got more involved with my specialty society, and I started saying yes to whatever the WSMA asked of me. I started being an advocate. The more I said yes, the more I felt I could make things better around me.
</p>
<p>
In fact, saying yes is what brought me to this place standing behind this podium. Now I am hopeful for the future. I am proud to be part of the team leading the way. I may not have all the answers, but more than likely, I know people who do.
</p>
<p>
That's the beauty of community. The WSMA is the organizing tool-the mechanism to bring a bunch of physicians and physician assistants in different fields together-it's the organized statewide community where you have the opportunity to meet your mentor, your next boss, or your next best friend. WE are the doctors' lounge of today!
</p>
<p>
What are you struggling with right now? The doctors' lounge is open. The WSMA can be the path to help you with whatever you're dealing with. If it's not in our power, or in our wheelhouse, we can figure out other ways to help.
</p>
<p>
As your president, I will be approachable and willing to hear you out. I believe that's who the best leaders are-the ones who listen well and raise up voices for change. I try to empower the people and teams around me so that they have a voice and know that what they're experiencing matters.
</p>
<p>
You've heard a bit about my journey- I've struggled with depression and feeling disconnected, and I've learned that it's healthy to have a mask-literally and figuratively-at work to stay safe. Sometimes it's vital to help you to compartmentalize so you don't fall apart when everything around you is falling apart. I've also learned, however, that you have to have people and places where you're safe without the mask.
</p>
<p>
In a difficult time in my life, I wrote this poem:
</p>
<p>
<em>I wear a mask at work<br />
I wear a mask to work<br />
I hide behind professionalism<br />
I tell myself-my mask keeps me safe<br />
I tell myself-my mask keeps you safe<br />
The less you know of my pain<br />
The less I show of what's inside<br />
The safer we are<br />
From questions<br />
From looks<br />
From fear that I'm not enough<br />
Well enough<br />
Keep it together<br />
Keep it hidden<br />
Keep it to yourself<br />
They tell me wellness is putting my own mask on first<br />
Perhaps I should turn on the oxygen too</em>
</p>
<p>
That may be a somewhat somber note on to end this speech, but the truth is, like all those trees I planted during the pandemic, the WSMA is both part of my oxygen and the place I can be without my mask. My involvement here brings me peace and helps me feel empowered to be the change I want to see in the world. I believe it can be that for you, as well!
</p>
<p>
So, in conclusion: We are stronger together. Let the WSMA be where you come for help, to help others, and to help us create a better future for ourselves, our profession, and our patients.
</p>
<p>
Thank you!
</p>
</div> | 9/24/2025 11:41:58 AM | 9/24/2025 11:39:50 AM | 9/24/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-august-22-2025-action-needed-to-preserve-enhanced-premium-tax-credits | CEO Rounds: August 22, 2025 - Action Needed to Preserve Enhanced Premium Tax Credits | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-august-22-2025-action-needed-to-preserve-enhanced-premium-tax-credits | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds with Jennifer Hanscom graphic" /></div>
<h5>August 22, 2025</h5>
<h2>Action Needed to Preserve Enhanced Premium Tax Credits</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 temporarily expanded federally funded premium tax credits for purchasing health insurance plans, making coverage more affordable for many previously uninsured patients.
</p>
<p>
In Washington state, these enhanced tax credits drove record enrollment in qualified commercial health plans and reduced the uninsured rate to historic lows. They improved affordability-especially for older residents, part-time workers, the self-employed, and small business owners.
</p>
<p>
The tax credits help many families and small businesses purchase coverage through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which operates Washington Healthplanfinder-an easy-to-use online marketplace where individuals and families can compare and enroll in qualified health plans, qualified dental plans, and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid).
</p>
<p>
Looking ahead, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-individual-buyers-of-health-insurance-could-face-a-double-whammy/">14 health insurers have requested an average premium increase of 21.2% for Washington's 2026 individual health insurance market</a>. A key factor behind this request is the scheduled expiration of the tax credits on Dec. 31, 2025, unless Congress acts to renew them.
</p>
<p>
If Congress fails to reauthorize the tax credits, an estimated 216,000 Washingtonians will be affected. These potential losses would compound the harmful Medicaid cuts included in H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that passed in July, which KFF estimates will reduce Medicaid spending in Washington by $4.75 billion when the <a href="https://www.wahbexchange.org/blog_080125/">bill takes effect</a>. To see how your congressional district would be impacted, visit Washington Health Benefit Exchange's <a href="https://www.wahbexchange.org/about-the-exchange/reports-data/presentations-reports/">Legislative Reports &amp; Presentations page</a>.
</p>
<p>
This week and next, WSMA's executive committee and I are meeting with members of Congress, our two U.S. senators, and their staff to urge swift action to reauthorize these tax credits before the end of 2025.
</p>
<p>
If we want patients to receive quality care in the right place at the right time by physicians in their communities, then they must have affordable, comprehensive insurance coverage. Allowing tax credits to expire would be a step backward.
</p>
<p>
In 2010, Washington's uninsured rate was around 15%. Today, it is approximately 4%. This progress is at risk. With Congress currently in its August recess, now is the time to raise this issue directly with your representatives. Please join us in urging immediate action to preserve affordable coverage for more than 200,000 Washingtonians. The AMA offers <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2019-01/communicating-with-congress.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">guidance on how to meet directly with your members of Congress</a> and the exchange offers a <a href="https://www.wahbexchange.org/content/dam/wahbe-assets/materials/communications/legislative/2025/federal-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-fact-sheets/WAHBE-ePTCs-State-Fact-Sheet-051625.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">fact sheet on the federal enhanced premium tax credits</a> to assist your advocacy. You can also find contact information for your members of Congress by entering your address in the <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder">state Legislature's district finder</a>, and most members of Congress have a "request a meeting" tab on their webpages. Time is of the essence-thank you for taking action.
</p>
</div> | 8/22/2025 10:47:12 AM | 8/22/2025 10:45:39 AM | 8/22/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-july-25-2025-two-legal-actions-of-note-and-two-ways-you-can-get-involved | CEO Rounds: July 25, 2025 - Two Legal Actions of Note and Two Ways You Can Get Involved | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-july-25-2025-two-legal-actions-of-note-and-two-ways-you-can-get-involved | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds with Jennifer Hanscom graphic" /></div>
<h5>July 25, 2025</h5>
<h2>Two Legal Actions of Note and Two Ways You Can Get Involved</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
For the past year, the WSMA has been active on the legal front advocating on behalf of the profession, and you, our members. You read recently in the WSMA Membership Memo <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Press_Release/2025/washington-health-groups-sue-to-stop-federal-governments-deletion-of-vital-health-data-and-resources.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=gONJA">about our action against</a> the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to stop the deletion of vital public health and science data. The lawsuit stems from actions taken by the federal administration to delete or remove numerous websites or data sources that physicians, nurses, scientists, public health professionals, and others rely upon on a wide range of topics including pregnancy risks, opioid-use disorder, the AIDS epidemic, and more.
</p>
<p>
To update you on the case, between now and Aug. 17, the WSMA and our co-plaintiffs are <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/july-18/call-for-declarations-of-harm-from-federal-removal-of-publicly-available-health-data.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=hONJA">looking for individuals and organizations to submit declarations of harm</a>. The process is simple and requires only a 20-minute interview with the legal team, who will then draft the declaration on the organization's or individual's behalf.
</p>
<p>
These declarations or stories will humanize the harm and cut through the legalese and bureaucratic jargon that is otherwise pervasive in these types of cases. The more stories and details we can provide, the more convincing and powerful our case will be. To learn more about the case and what's involved with submitting a declaration, <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/july-18/call-for-declarations-of-harm-from-federal-removal-of-publicly-available-health-data?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=iONJA">visit the WSMA website</a>. If you or your organization would like to submit a declaration of harm, simply email WSMA Director of Communications <a href="mailto:gfs@wsma.org">Graham Short</a>, who will connect you with the legal team to schedule your interview.
</p>
<p>
In other legal news, the WSMA executive committee voted this week to join as a plaintiff in an antitrust lawsuit against Multiplan, brought forward by the American Medical Association and the Illinois State Medical Society. At the heart of the suit is the claim that a large group of health insurance companies conspired to underpay out-of-network claims made by physicians.
</p>
<p>
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, seeks to hold Multiplan accountable for its role in an unlawful multilateral price-fixing scheme that has operated roughly since 2015 and has forced physicians to accept increasingly low payment amounts for out-of-network services, which often do not cover their operating costs. Multiplan has arrangements with several payers operating in Washington state including United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Anthem, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
</p>
<p>
The plaintiffs seek an injunction to stop this price-fixing practice.
</p>
<p>
Your practice may also be entitled to financial damages against Multiplan and other insurance companies by becoming a plaintiff in this matter. You can join the lawsuit as a plaintiff by either choosing a <a href="https://www.napolilaw.com/en/multiplan/#gf_57">court-appointed law firm</a> or hiring your own firm.
</p>
<p>
Three lawyers have been appointed as co-lead counsel in the multidistrict litigation over Multiplan's practices in federal court: Matthew M. Lavin of Arnall Golden Gregory (the direct lawyer for the AMA and ISMS); Hunter J. Shkolnik of Napoli Shkolnik Attorneys at Law; and Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP.
</p>
<p>
If you choose the court-appointed law firms, please note that the firms have stated that you will not incur legal fees until your case has been won. You also have the opportunity to obtain a case evaluation at no cost. You can <a href="https://www.napolilaw.com/en/multiplan/#gf_57">start a free case evaluation here</a>.
</p>
<p>
In the meantime, the WSMA is making contact with the firms and will keep you up to date on the matter. At this point, there appears to be no deadline to sign on as a plaintiff.
</p>
<p>
Outside of these matters, the WSMA is involved in several amicus briefs seeking to protect the peer review process and standard of practice in Washington state. As these cases make their way through the court system, we will update you on their status and the impact on the profession.
</p>
<p>
These are just a few examples of the way the WSMA has your back, raises up your voice, and advocates for the profession. Your involvement and support make it possible for us to do this work on your behalf. We're here for you and appreciate all the ways you're there for us. Thank you!
</p>
</div> | 7/25/2025 10:40:16 AM | 7/25/2025 10:30:28 AM | 7/25/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-june-27-2025-talk-and-action-on-prior-authorization | CEO Rounds: June 27, 2025 - Talk and Action on Prior Authorization | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-june-27-2025-talk-and-action-on-prior-authorization | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds with Jennifer Hanscom graphic" /></div>
<h5>June 27, 2025</h5>
<h2>Talk and Action on Prior Authorization</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
Prior authorization is once again making headlines, this time as the Association of Health Insurance Plans announced on Monday "a series of commitments to streamline, simplify and reduce prior authorization." In its <a href="https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/health-plans-take-action-to-simplify-prior-authorization">release</a>, AHIP shared that participating health plans commit to standardize and reduce the scope of claims subject to prior authorization.
</p>
<p>
The several measures will apply to employer-sponsored plans, Medicaid and Medicare, and plans offered by the state's exchange program.
</p>
<p>
While Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz praised the move, many others are taking a wait-and-see approach.
</p>
<p>
Back in 2017, the WSMA joined the American Medical Association and 16 state and specialty medical societies, national associations, and patient representatives in developing <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/principles-with-signatory-page-for-slsc.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">best practices for prior authorization</a> and other utilization management requirements. The release of the 21 prior authorization reform principles initiated meaningful discussions with the health insurance industry about reducing prior authorization burdens resulting in the <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/public/arc-public/prior-authorization-consensus-statement.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Consensus Statement on Improving the Prior Authorization Process</a> in 2018, created by the AMA, American Hospital Association, AHIP, American Pharmacists Association, BlueCross BlueShield Association, and Medical Group Management Association. Insurance carriers have <a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/ama-charges-payers-not-following-prior-authorization-reforms-they-agreed-2018#:~:text=The%202018%20agreement%20between%20the,yet%20to%20fully%20take%20hold.">since been criticized</a> for not following through with this pledge.
</p>
<p>
Putting this statement into action, the WSMA has worked to pass policies that have put Washington state at the forefront of states regulating prior authorization processes. Most recently, that includes legislation establishing some of the shortest turnaround times in the nation.
</p>
<p>
Effective as of Jan. 1, 2024, time frames for both electronic and nonelectronic requests and standard and expedited requests have been shortened to ensure timely patient access to care. Washington state's prior authorization reforms only apply to commercial plans regulated by our Office of Insurance Commissioner. ERISA plans are exempt.
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Standard electronic prior authorization requests</strong><br />
For a standard electronic prior authorization request, an insurer must make a decision within three calendar days. If additional information is needed to make a determination, the health carrier must request it within one calendar day of the submission of the request.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Expedited electronic prior authorization requests</strong><br />
For an expedited electronic prior authorization request, the insurer must make a decision within one calendar days. If additional information is needed to make a determination, the health carrier must request it within one calendar day of the submission of the request.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Standard nonelectronic prior authorization requests</strong><br />
For a standard nonelectronic prior authorization request, an insurer must make a decision within five calendar days. If additional information is needed to make a determination, the health carrier must request it within five calendar days of the submission of the request.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Expedited nonelectronic prior authorization requests</strong><br />
For an expedited nonelectronic prior authorization request, an insurer must make a decision within two calendar days. If additional information is needed to make a determination, the health carrier must request it within one calendar day of the submission of the request.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner clarifies that under current law, insurance carriers and third-party administrators are not permitted to require prior authorization for emergency services.
</p>
<p>
Additionally, no prior authorization is needed for "extenuating circumstances." Extenuating circumstances are unforeseen situations where the time frames for both standard and expedited prior authorization are insufficient for a physician to receive approval prior to the delivery of a service. You can read more about what classifies as an extenuating circumstance in <a href="https://priorauth.wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=B1IHA">WSMA's Prior Authorization Navigator</a>.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1706&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">By 2027</a>, carriers in Washington state must build and maintain a prior authorization application programming interface or interoperable electronic process that automates for in-network providers the prior authorization process via electronic health records or practice management system.
</p>
<p>
The new application programming interface requirement will facilitate the process for determining the necessity of a prior authorization, provide information on documentation requirements, and assist with communications between a carrier and the provider or facility, such as requests and determinations. Additional details on new electronic standards are forthcoming. Many of these advancements were made possible by annual data collected by the OIC per WSMA-supported Senate Bill 6404 in 2020, which has illustrated reviews may be administrative formalities rather than true clinical reviews, supporting to the need for these prior authorization reforms.
</p>
<p>
While prior authorization will continue to make <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/prior-authorization-insurance-denials-patients-treatment-rcna212068">national headlines</a>, the WSMA will continue to advocate locally for change. As covered in our <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/legislative_regulatory/wsma-legislative-report.aspx?WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=E1IHA">2025 Legislative Report</a> (a WSMA member benefit that's currently being mailed to members), the WSMA continues to work on improving transparency and accountability in prior authorization determinations. We will continue to advocate against AI as the sole means of denying a prior authorization and continue to advocate for review by a licensed physician or health professional working within their scope of practice.
</p>
<p>
Additionally, we heard from the physician community that there are cases where a prior authorization is approved and then later denied, causing physician-led teams to chase payments from carriers. While this is already illegal under state law, we will continue our work to clarify in statute that retrospective denials shall not be considered adverse benefit determinations and will not be required to follow the standard appeal process to avoid another time-consuming hurdle for physicians and their teams.
</p>
<p>
Your voice matters to the work we do on your behalf. I urge you to continue to be in touch with us with your concerns and stories.
</p>
<p>
And as always, thank you for all you do.
</p>
</div> | 6/28/2025 1:45:03 AM | 6/27/2025 10:51:42 AM | 6/27/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-april-25-2025-this-may-invest-in-yourself-your-career-and-your-profession | CEO Rounds: April 25, 2025 - This May, Invest in Yourself, Your Career, and Your Profession | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-april-25-2025-this-may-invest-in-yourself-your-career-and-your-profession | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds graphic" /></div>
<h5>April 25, 2025</h5>
<h2>This May, Invest in Yourself, Your Career, and Your Profession</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
More than ever, health care needs smart, compassionate, and innovative leaders guiding the way. With today's challenges in the house of medicine, the shifting landscape of health care, and the unpredictable fate of federal legislation impacting our work, effective physician leaders are essential if we are to navigate a healthy way forward for the profession and their patients.
</p>
<p>
It will take bold leadership to tackle these challenges and the WSMA is here to help. Physician leadership is critical to ensuring that patient-centered care is clinician-driven. Yet those skills aren't always traditionally taught in medical schools and physicians may not always recognize that it's a skillset they need to learn. It takes leadership competencies to envision and shape the future, and those who possess the right mix of these skills will continue to be in high demand.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA is committed to helping you develop professionally in today's health care environment, whether or not you choose a leadership path.
</p>
<p>
To that end, for some 30 years, we've been bringing members our annual <a href="[@]ldc?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=vkBBA">Leadership Development Conference</a>, held on the shores of beautiful Lake Chelan. Many WSMA leaders, chiefs of staff, and CMOs started and shaped their leadership journey at this conference. You can too!
</p>
<p>
This year's conference will explore the themes of leading as a medical staff, being an effective advocate, leading in your organization, and leading with strength. Topics and speakers include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Leading Out of Burnout: Redesigning the Way You Work - Ed Walker, MD</li>
<li>Take Your Leadership to the Next Level: Applying Adaptive Leadership to Your Greatest Challenges - Kurt O'Brien</li>
<li>Wife and Death with Lady Glaucomflecken - Kristin Flanary</li>
<li>Health Policy and Economics - Jeb Shepard, WSMA Director of Policy</li>
<li>Legislative Advocacy 101 - Sean Graham, WSMA Director of Government Affairs and Rep. Mike Steele (R-Chelan)</li>
<li>Incite Curiosity, Change the Game: Preparing for a media interview or testifying in the Legislature - Mary Kay Clunies-Ross, Sunshine Communications</li>
<li>Thriving in Medicine: Implementing Wellness Best Practices in Your Organization - Alka Atal-Barrio, MD, WSMA Wellness Committee chair, and Carrie Horwitch, MD, MPH, WSMA Wellness Committee member</li>
<li>Leadership, Equity, and You - James Whitfield, co-founder of Be Culture</li>
<li>Contract Review Tips &amp; Salary Data - Kyle Claussen, Resolve CEO</li>
<li>Wealth Prescription: Smart Financial Planning for Physicians - Jim Wilson and Elizabeth Hail, Northern Capital Management</li>
</ul>
<p>
I hope you'll take this opportunity to continue investing in your leadership development with the WSMA. <a href="[@]ldc?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=vkBBA">Register today to join us in Chelan May 16-17</a>.
</p>
<h3>The results of your advocacy</h3>
<p>
I also want to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to each of you for investing in your state professional society, the WSMA. We are grateful for your yearly investment in the association. Our work doesn't always come with instant gratification-advocacy can sometimes take years to bring change, whether in the state capital or in a court of law. But to get to that moment, it takes you-your ideas, feedback, direction, and engagement.
</p>
<p>
Speaking of advocacy, we are in the waning days of this year's legislative session and I'm happy to report that after two years of advocacy we have finally passed our Medicaid Access Program! That said, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1392&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 1392</a> does still require the governor's signature and final approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but we've successfully cleared a major hurdle in this journey.
</p>
<p>
Thank you again to all our members and practice leaders who wrote op-eds and letters to editors and responded to our many calls to action and requests to testify. Your grassroots engagement mattered.
</p>
<p>
I also want to offer a shout out and special thanks to our team in Olympia, especially Sean Graham, WSMA's director of government affairs, who worked tirelessly around the clock to develop the Medicaid Access Program and to secure legislative leaders who introduced, advocated for, and supported the bill.
</p>
<p>
Their work, and yours, made all the difference. Thank you, one and all, for all you do!
</p>
</div> | 4/25/2025 9:54:32 AM | 4/25/2025 9:51:57 AM | 4/25/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-may-20-2025-wsmas-medicaid-access-program-bill-signed-by-gov-bob-ferguson | CEO Rounds: May 20, 2025 - WSMA's Medicaid Access Program Bill Signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-may-20-2025-wsmas-medicaid-access-program-bill-signed-by-gov-bob-ferguson | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="CEO Rounds logo with John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA President" src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-bramhall-2024-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>May 20, 2025</h5>
<h2>WSMA's Medicaid Access Program Bill Signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson</h2>
<p>
<em>WSMA joins 50-state coalition to stop nationwide Medicaid cuts</em>
</p>
<p>
John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA President
</p>
<p>
In a historic moment for Washington's physician community, WSMA's priority Medicaid Access Program legislation, House Bill 1392, was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday, May 19, after successful passage by the 2025 Washington State Legislature. Both the culmination of a multiyear coalition effort and a critical step in a longer journey, the Medicaid Access Program in HB 1392 establishes state law designed to leverage federal dollars, invest in Washington's Medicaid program, and allow physicians and advanced practitioners to take more Medicaid patients. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Capitol Hill), who was instrumental in successfully guiding the bill through the legislative process.
</p>
<p>
Why the Medicaid Access Program is needed: Despite the fact that nearly 1 out of every 4 Washington residents is on Medicaid, the state effectively limits their access to primary and specialty care services by not paying the full cost of care. As physicians are well-aware, the Legislature has not provided a broad-based rate increase in decades and Washington's specialty Medicaid reimbursement rates are among the worst in the nation. This underpayment means that many clinics and medical groups cannot see the number of Medicaid patients who need care.
</p>
<p>
The Medicaid Access Program is premised on the simple idea that Medicaid recipients deserve the same expert medical care as everyone else and the best way to do that is to increase reimbursement rates.
</p>
<p>
The Medicaid Access Program puts in place an assessment on health insurance carriers, primarily Medicaid managed care organizations, to leverage additional federal funds for our state's Medicaid program. The total amount increases the amount of funds available to reimburse clinics, medical groups, physicians, physician assistants, APRNs, and other advanced care practitioners so they can see more Medicaid patients and see them faster. Increasing investments in Medicaid reimbursement will relieve pressure on commercial contracting, as practices will no longer be subsidizing the state by treating Medicaid enrollees. The overall cost of care will be lowered by promoting access to care in a timely fashion, diminishing the need for Medicaid patients to seek care in emergency departments.
</p>
<p>
The Medicaid Access Program will raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for all professional services provided by physicians, physician assistants, APRNs, and other advanced care practitioners to at least Medicare levels and will index to inflation. The increase will be for all professional services for all specialties, with no exceptions, no carve-outs, no caveats.
</p>
<p>
With the Medicaid Access Program law now in place in our state, the WSMA turns its advocacy toward the next stage in the journey: attaining federal approval for the program. In the coming months, the WSMA will be working with the governor's office and the state Health Care Authority to seek required approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the program. If approved, the assessment on insurance carriers will commence on Jan. 1 of the year following CMS approval and rate increases will begin Jan. 1 of the year after that.
</p>
<p>
Our proposal was designed to comply with current federal regulations. While federal regulators have agitated for decades about curtailing states' use of assessments such as the Medicaid Access Program, and current federal administration headwinds are strong, similar programs were approved by previous Republican and Democratic administrations, including the first Trump administration. <strong>Until there is clear indication that CMS will not approve a waiver, the Medicaid Access Program continues to be our best opportunity to fund investments in Medicaid.</strong>
</p>
<p>
Approval of the Medicaid Access Program represents a critical step in a long journey toward a healthier Washington. Over the past several months, the WSMA has been working in coalition with all 50 state medical associations to <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/no-federal-medicaid-cuts/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=62rDA">stop cuts to state Medicaid programs</a>. Every state but Alaska has a "provider tax" that assesses state entities to leverage federal dollars for their Medicaid program, with several states-including California, Illinois, and New York-having programs similar to our new Medicaid Access Program law. Many in Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, understand stopping these provider taxes could devastate their state's Medicaid programs.
</p>
<p>
Please join us in this outreach to Congress: you can <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/no-federal-medicaid-cuts/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=62rDA">send an email here</a>. Additionally, you can help us by <a href="https://www.protectourhealthcare.org/texting-program">texting patients and urging them to add their voice to our campaign</a>.
</p>
<p>
Our work in securing adequate Medicaid reimbursement is far from over. The WSMA would like to thank Rep. Macri for championing the bill and the many physician organization partners that helped us move the bill to the finish line, including dozens of state specialty societies, county medical societies, medical associations, clinics and medical groups, and hundreds of individuals. The journey continues, but we want to express of appreciation for your efforts and celebrate meeting this first milestone!
</p>
</div> | 5/20/2025 11:27:23 AM | 5/20/2025 11:21:58 AM | 4/25/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| weekly-rounds-march-25-2025-house-and-senate-budget-and-tax-proposals-on-the-table-in-olympia | Weekly Rounds: March 25, 2025 - House and Senate Budget and Tax Proposals on the Table in Olympia | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/weekly-rounds-march-25-2025-house-and-senate-budget-and-tax-proposals-on-the-table-in-olympia | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/Weekly-Rounds-Article-Graphic-Sean-Graham-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>March 25, 2025 </h5>
<h2>House and Senate Budget and Tax Proposals on the Table in Olympia</h2>
<p>Sean Graham, WSMA Director of Government Affairs</p>
<p>
Budget negotiations are now in full swing in Olympia, with majority-party Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives having released their spending plans and proposals to raise revenue through new and increased taxes. The 2025 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on April 27 and the focus of legislators between now and then will be the challenging task of bridging a state budget shortfall of around $13 billion over the next four years.
</p>
<p>
At a high level, the proposed operating budgets from the House and Senate released on Monday are similar, both relying on a combination of spending cuts and tax increases to bridge the state budget shortfall. And both budgets increase overall state spending by a rate of around 8% in the coming two-year state budget cycle that begins on July 1. But as is usually the case, there are numerous differences in approach between the two proposals that will need to be ironed out-particularly around taxation.
</p>
<h3>The House budget proposal</h3>
<p>
The House proposal spends $77.8 billion, with a number of cuts to critical health care and behavioral health programs. Funding to Medicaid managed care organizations for reimbursement of physical health care rates is cut by 1%, which equates to $37.5 million in state funds and $124 million including federal funds. Medicaid rates for laboratory services are capped at 80% of Medicare, reducing reimbursement by $10.4 million (state) and $33.5 million (state and federal).
</p>
<p>
The primary business tax proposed by the House that may impact physician organizations is a business and occupation (B&amp;O) tax increase for businesses with annual revenue of over $250 million. For physician organizations subject to the surcharge this means their revenue above that threshold would be taxed at 2.75%, compared to the current rate of 1.75%. The tax increase is proposed as <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2045&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2045</a> and raises around $2.5 billion over the two-year budget cycle.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA is pleased that the House budget presumes passage of <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1392&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 1392</a>, our Medicaid Access Program legislation to increase Medicaid rates by leveraging federal funds. The program requires federal approval and then time to be implemented, so we're wary of any cuts to Medicaid rates in the short term and will raise our concerns in public testimony and conversations with legislators.
</p>
<h3>The Senate budget proposal</h3>
<p>
The Senate proposal spends $78.5 billion and includes similar cuts as the House budget with regard to Medicaid managed care physical health care rates and laboratory services. The Senate budget also relies on the establishment of a statewide "high-earner" payroll tax of 5%, applying to businesses with annual payroll of more than $7 million that have employees with annual compensation of more than $176,100.
</p>
<p>
The payroll tax-proposed as <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=5796&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5796</a>-is modeled on what is currently in place in Seattle and would apply to the vast majority of physician groups operating in the state, limiting their ability to recruit and retain staff and serve Medicaid enrollees in their community and potentially jeopardizing their ability to keep their doors open.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA acknowledges the difficult choices that legislators will face in working to close the state budget shortfall. But the establishment of a statewide payroll tax that applies to physician organizations would have a similarly significant adverse impact on access to care for patients to those budget cuts. In the absence of exemptions for physician organizations, the WSMA will oppose SB 5796 and we hope you will join us in our advocacy-watch for a call to action on the bill in the coming days.
</p>
<p>
With the spending plans and supporting documents running well over 3,000 pages, WSMA staff is continuing to unpack details of the proposals and what they mean for the physician community. <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/WSMA/data/images/Attachments/2025-State-Budget-Chart.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Click here</a> for a chart with more details on some of the key budget and revenue items being proposed, including for residencies and public health services. If you have questions about anything related to state budget proposals, contact WSMA Government Affairs Director <a href="mailto:sean@wsma.org">Sean Graham</a>.
</p>
</div> | 3/26/2025 1:45:04 AM | 3/25/2025 2:03:54 PM | 3/25/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-feb-28-2025-protecting-medicaid-and-medicare-and-your-ability-to-provide-care-to-you | CEO Rounds: Feb. 28, 2025 - Protecting Medicaid and Medicare and Your Ability to Provide Care to You | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-feb-28-2025-protecting-medicaid-and-medicare-and-your-ability-to-provide-care-to-you | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>February 28, 2025</h5>
<h2>
Protecting Medicaid and Medicare and Your Ability to Provide Care to Your Patients</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
The WSMA works tirelessly to advance efforts that support and empower Washington state's physicians and their patients. Nowhere is that more important than in the realm of public policy. We view ourselves as your powerful ally in patient care, representing the profession in the halls of the state Capitol, with legislative bodies and government agencies, as well as before the courts based on policies and directions set by you, our members.
</p>
<p>
Our time and attention are primarily state-based, but often we must direct our advocacy at the federal level, representing your voice with our state's 10 congressional representatives and two senators.
</p>
<p>
For the past few days, our attention has been divided as we attempt to advance our state legislative priorities before critical legislative deadlines in Olympia, while also attempting to stop devastating cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which would have long-term impact on your ability to provide care to patients.
</p>
<p>
As our Olympia team works with our members to testify on critical bills before the Legislature, our physician leadership and policy team has been meeting with Washington's congressional delegation urging action on Medicaid and Medicare before the March 14 deadline.
</p>
<h3>Action alert #1: Washington state's Medicaid funding at risk-contact Congress today!</h3>
<p>
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, House Concurrent Budget Resolution 14, which outlines Congress' budget blueprint for the fiscal year, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It is expected that the U.S. Senate will pass an identical budget resolution enabling federal lawmakers to utilize "budget reconciliation," a fast-track congressional procedure that allows certain tax, spending, and debt-limit legislation to avoid a filibuster and pass with simple majorities in both chambers. Within this budget resolution are instructions for congressional committees to identify and alter policies related to revenue, spending, and debt. Most alarming are instructions for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has direct and broad jurisdiction over Medicaid, to identify policies that save $880 billion.
</p>
<p>
While congressional Republicans, in coordination with the Trump administration, are still deliberating the exact nature of the policy proposals to achieve these spending reduction targets, it is widely expected that Medicaid would have to undergo a substantial overhaul to achieve those targets. Policies such as the implementation of per capita caps, mandatory work requirements for "able-bodied" Americans, or reductions in the federal medical assistance percentage, or FMAP (i.e., the amount the federal government reimburses each state for Medicaid), are just some of the drastic changes under congressional consideration.
</p>
<p>
All of these proposals represent real threats to physician practices and patients. Medicaid, also known as Apple Health, provides coverage to 2 million patients in Washington state.
</p>
<p>
In addition to harming patients, drastic cuts to Medicaid would also jeopardize our state budget and economy. Washington state receives 66% of its total Medicaid funding from the federal government and shifting that obligation-over $12 billion in 2023-from the federal government to the state would overwhelm our state budget, which is currently trying to fill a projected $12-15 billion budget hole over the next four years.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/oppose-federal-medicaid-cuts/?_zs=A3aFd1&amp;_zl=Vs76A">It's critical that you contact your members of Congress today and urge them to protect Medicaid funding</a>. Please share how cuts to the Medicaid program would impact patients in your community.
</p>
<p>
If you live in Central or Eastern Washington, it's particularly important that your representative in those districts, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R) in Congressional District 4 or Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R) in Congressional District 5, <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/oppose-federal-medicaid-cuts/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=JvA6A">hear from you</a> on the impact these devastating cuts will have on your community. The WSMA executive committee has <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/WSMA/data/images/Rep%20Newhouse%20Medicaid_02272025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">shared data</a> on the impact in those congressional districts, but the representatives would like to hear directly from their constituents. We encourage you to call or email a personal message to these representatives. Find contact information for Rep. Newhouse <a href="https://newhouse.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact">here</a> and Rep. Baumgartner <a href="https://baumgartner.house.gov/contact">here</a>.
</p>
<h3>Action alert #2: Continue outreach on H.R. 879, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act</h3>
<p>
This legislation, if passed, would, effective April 1, prospectively cancel the 2.83% payment cut that went into effect on Jan. 1 while also providing a 2% payment update, helping to stabilize physician practices and protect patients' access to care.
</p>
<p>
To date there has been bipartisan support of H.R. 879. The WSMA is grateful to Rep. Kim Schrier (D-8), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-10), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-4), and Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-5), who have all signed onto the bill. If you live in their districts, be sure to thank them! If your congressional representative is not on this list, <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f120960%2fRespond">please reach out to them</a>.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f120960%2fRespond">Contact your representative today</a> and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 879. Double check the list of co-sponsors on the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/879/cosponsors?s=4&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22H.R.+879%22%7D">bill webpage</a> before reaching out.
</p>
<h3>Time is of the essence-spread the word!</h3>
<p>
We hope you will share these calls to action with your colleagues, family members, and patients. In addition to emails and calls, the WSMA urges you to share your messages and stories on social media. Our team prepares social media toolkits on a bimonthly basis. If you would like to be an active ambassador for WSMA, <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CgN5_wMfNU66xEvN3PBcAFbXjQTErcBIm97a5r4IigdUQ1pBQ0pSNFVFVk9INVlYTExJUlNNMURTVy4u">sign up here</a>. You'll receive our bimonthly toolkits as they're created, and our staff social media expert, Katie Howard, will help to onboard you on how you can help actively promote WSMA priorities through social media channels (and have a bit of fun doing so). You can also find our latest social media toolkit <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/physician_advocacy/social-media-ambassador-program/wsma/advocacy/physician_advocacy/wsma-social-media-ambassador-program.aspx?hkey=1fe9fbaf-de48-4b56-bac6-fb1b4ca288c3&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=PvA6A">on the WSMA website</a>.
</p>
<p>
Even with all that's happening at the federal level, I also encourage you to continue to add your voice of support for <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=QvA6A">WSMA's Medicaid Access Program</a>. The bills are still alive in Olympia and need your support. Visit our <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/share-your-story/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=RvA6A">Medicaid Access Program campaign website</a> to send a message to your legislator today. We urge you to share your stories in your local media and online. More resources, including fact sheets, supporting data, social media graphics, key messages, and more can be found on the <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/resources/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=SvA6A">campaign site</a>.
</p>
<p>
With the legislative deadline for bills to be approved by fiscal committees approaching this Friday, many bills have either died or are heading to the floor of either the House or Senate to be voted on. The WSMA remains engaged on numerous issues including, but not limited to, prior authorization, vaccine education, medical debt, international medical graduates, health care registry, corporate practice of medicine, and noncompetes. Be sure to read our twice-monthly Advocacy Report newsletter and watch our weekly legislative update video for more detailed updates.
</p>
<p>
Thank you again for your engagement on these issues at both the state and the federal levels as we continue to raise the voice of the profession and your patients in these critical debates. As WSMA President John Bramhall, MD, PhD, noted in his <a href="https://vimeo.com/1058039701">recent message to the membership</a>, "The challenges we face today in health care policymaking at the state and federal levels are constant and intense. Regardless, professional integrity and patient welfare must remain paramount. The WSMA will continue to provide accurate, evidence-based information to our members to support and empower appropriate and lawful delivery of care, to elected officials to guide the development of state and federal policy, and to patients to shield them from overt misinformation."
</p>
</div> | 2/28/2025 11:13:38 AM | 2/28/2025 11:12:09 AM | 2/28/2025 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-jan-24-2025-a-successful-and-standing-room-only-wsma-advocacy-day | CEO Rounds: Jan. 24, 2025 - A Successful (and Standing Room Only) WSMA Advocacy Day | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2025/ceo-rounds-jan-24-2025-a-successful-and-standing-room-only-wsma-advocacy-day | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>January 24, 2025</h5>
<h2>A Successful (and Standing Room Only) WSMA Advocacy Day</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
One week after the legislative session began, the WSMA held its annual Legislative Summit with record attendance. WSMA members heard from the state's new insurance commissioner, Patty Kuderer; chair of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee, Sen. Annette Cleveland; lead sponsor of House Bill 1392 (our Medicaid Access Program bill) Rep. Nicole Macri; and chair of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, Rep. Dan Bronoske, as well as Gov. Bob Ferguson's deputy policy director, David Frockt, and health policy lead, Caitlin Safford.
</p>
<p>
While more than 1,000 bills have been introduced since the start of session, at the Summit WSMA members focused their attention on:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=jup2A">The Medicaid Access Program</a>: On the eve of the Summit, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1392&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 1392</a> and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1392&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5372</a> were introduced, both of which advance a covered lives assessment to allow the state to maximize the use of federal funds to promote access to care for Medicaid enrollees by increasing reimbursement rates. Special thanks to Vivienne Meljen, MD, and Judy Kimelman, MD, who penned a recent op-ed on the topic in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/who-will-deliver-for-was-mothers-and-children/">Who will deliver for WA's mothers and children?</a></li>
<li>Practice viability: With the state facing a severe budget shortfall, WSMA members were encouraged to share with legislators how declining reimbursements and rising expenses were challenging their ability to provide care to their patients and communities. Members shared how increased taxes, caps on reimbursement, and limitations on the ability to enter into partnerships could further hamper a practice's ability to keep its doors open.</li>
<li>Scope of practice: An evergreen issue in Olympia, WSMA members were united in noting concerns on proposals to expand scope that do not account for necessary education and training requirements to ensure the medical judgment needed in providing whole-person care.</li>
</ul>
<p>
For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting, you can get up to speed by watching our pre-session advocacy webinar on our <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/legislative___regulatory/Legislative%20Activities/wsma/advocacy/legislative_regulatory/legislative-activities.aspx?hkey=231ee068-da1d-49ae-b5bc-01a857b21a9b&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=nup2A">Legislative Activities</a> webpage.
</p>
<p>
Our team will continue to keep you informed via our bimonthly Advocacy Report newsletter as well as updates posted on our website. Should you have questions about particular bills and public hearings, please contact <a href="mailto:sean@wsma.org">Sean Graham</a>.
</p>
<h3>AMPAC Candidate Workshop</h3>
<p>
If you met with your legislator and thought "Hey, I can do this," you might want to check out the 2025 AMPAC Candidate Workshop offered March 28 and 29. Whether you want to help get someone elected or get elected yourself, learn how to run a winning political campaign by attending the AMPAC Candidate Workshop, held annually at the American Medical Association office in Washington, D.C. And new this year: To help encourage physician public service in elected office, the WSMA Foundation will be offering a scholarship to a WSMA member to attend the workshop. Learn more <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/january-17/2025-ampac-candidate-workshop-returns-in-person-march-28-30?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=oup2A">on the WSMA website</a>.
</p>
<h3>WSMA Leadership Development Conference</h3>
<p>
If you are looking for an opportunity to engage in the work of the WSMA and network with your colleagues from around the state, please plan to join us at our next event, our annual <a href="[@]wsma/events/leadership_development_conference/wsma/events/ldc/leadership_development_conference.aspx?hkey=c7532c38-057a-4568-8a3c-078182469222&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=pup2A">Leadership Development Conference</a>. This year's conference will be held May 16-17 in Chelan. Topics will include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Leading Out of Burnout: Redesigning the Way You Work</li>
<li>Leading Adaptively</li>
<li>Being an Effective Advocate</li>
<li>Implementing Wellness Best Practices Into Your Organization</li>
<li>Implementing DEI Effectively Into Your Organization</li>
</ul>
<p>
The full conference agenda and registration are available online on our <a href="[@]wsma/events/leadership_development_conference/wsma/events/ldc/leadership_development_conference.aspx?hkey=c7532c38-057a-4568-8a3c-078182469222&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=pup2A">Leadership Development Conference webpage</a>.
</p>
<p>
Remember the WSMA has a variety of ways to engage in our work, from our in-person meetings and committee work, to our newsletter, podcast channel, and on-demand webinars. Please check out all that we have to offer on the <a href="http://wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=qup2A">WSMA website</a>.
</p>
</div> | 1/24/2025 10:12:53 AM | 1/24/2025 9:52:42 AM | 1/24/2025 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 | CEO_Rounds | 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> | 1/2/2025 10:25:34 AM | 1/2/2025 10:23:25 AM | 12/27/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-nov-22-2024-keeping-a-watchful-eye-on-both-washingtons | CEO Rounds: Nov. 22, 2024 - Keeping A Watchful Eye on Both Washingtons | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-nov-22-2024-keeping-a-watchful-eye-on-both-washingtons | <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>November 22, 2024</h5>
<h2>Keeping A Watchful Eye on Both Washingtons</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>As your state medical association, the WSMA's primary focus is, necessarily, on our state-we keep a close eye on what's happening in Olympia and the decisions made at state agencies, in the Legislature, or by the governor, and how those actions may affect our members and their patients.</p>
<p>At the same time, we can't-and don't-ignore what is happening in the other Washington.</p>
<p>As last week's Advocacy Report newsletter highlighted, there are three bills before Congress, one each on Medicare payment, prior authorization, and telehealth, that are crucial to your work. We urge all members and their teams to make their voices heard on these proposals. Take a moment and reach out to your congressional representatives and Washington's two senators to push for passage of these bills before <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2024/urgent-action-needed-on-bills-to-preserve-medicare-patients-access-to-care.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=N0Ew9">Congress adjourns for the year</a>.</p>
<p>Additionally, we have heard from many of you with concerns regarding proposed cabinet appointments as the incoming Trump administration begins to take shape. These appointments include leadership roles overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, public health, and regulatory decisions, and have far-reaching implications for physicians and patients alike.</p>
<p>Understanding the process of Senate confirmation and recess appointments is essential to advocate for leaders who prioritize patient care and the stability of our health care system.</p>
<p>Here's a quick summary of the process: Under the U.S. Constitution, many high-ranking federal positions require Senate confirmation. The process is designed to ensure that appointees are qualified and reflect the nation's interests.</p>
<p>How it works:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nomination: The president nominates an individual for a role.</li>
<li>Committee hearings: Senate committees hold hearings to evaluate the nominee's qualifications, vision, and potential conflicts of interest.</li>
<li>Full Senate vote: After the hearings, the nominee goes to the full Senate for a vote. A simple majority is needed for confirmation.</li>
</ul>
<p>This process enables the Senate to vet appointees thoroughly, ensuring accountability and transparency.</p>
<p>There has been coverage in the media about possible recess appointments. When the Senate is not in session, the president can make recess appointments to fill vacancies temporarily. That process is outlined in Article II, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution.</p>
<p>How it works:</p>
<ul>
<li>Appointment: During a Senate recess, the president appoints someone to a vacant position without waiting for Senate approval.</li>
<li>Duration: The appointee serves until the end of the Senate's next session. If not confirmed by the Senate before this deadline, the position becomes vacant again.</li>
<li>Controversy: Recess appointments can bypass Senate oversight temporarily, leading to tension between the executive and legislative branches.</li>
</ul>
<p>What lies ahead is anyone's guess, but the WSMA will monitor appointments and engage with Washington's senators to advocate for health care leaders who prioritize patient care and support the medical community. Physicians can amplify these efforts by staying informed, contacting your senators directly, and collaborating with professional organizations to ensure your voice is heard. As a constituent, you too can add your voice by contacting Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell.</p>
<h3>2025 Legislative Summit: Doctors' Day on the Hill</h3>
<p>Closer to home, we encourage you to don your white coats and join your colleagues in Olympia on Jan. 22 for WSMA's yearly Legislative Summit. We will be joined by newly elected Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. While the WSMA typically engages on hundreds of bills during the legislative session, we anticipate that for the Summit we'll focus on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Securing across-the-board Medicaid rate increases.</li>
<li>Defending against inappropriate scope of practice expansions.</li>
<li>Supporting our health care workforce by increasing education and training investments and promoting retention of existing workforce.</li>
<li>Opposing tax increases on the physician community and other proposals that adversely impact the viability of physician practices.</li>
<li>Issues related to public health.</li>
</ul>
<p>Be sure to <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=O0Ew9">register today for this event</a>, which is free for members. You can read more about <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/advocacy-topics.aspx?hkey=962a716c-d454-4e58-a72a-5931ef47cd68&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=P0Ew9">WSMA advocacy issues on our website</a>.</p>
<p>And as Thanksgiving draws near, I'll close with words of gratitude. Your involvement and engagement with the WSMA make a real difference-for the profession, for your patients, and for your colleagues. With new leadership in Olympia and Washington, D.C., we look forward to working together to keep the physician voice front and center.</p>
<p>We are stronger and better because of you.</p>
<p>Here's wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!</p>
</div> | 11/22/2024 10:25:56 AM | 11/22/2024 9:51:02 AM | 11/22/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-oct-25-2024-changing-the-system-begins-by-building-relationships | CEO Rounds: Oct. 25, 2024 - Changing the System Begins by Building Relationships | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-oct-25-2024-changing-the-system-begins-by-building-relationships | <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>October 25, 2024</h5>
<h2>Changing the System Begins by Building Relationships</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
How many articles have you read lately that start with the line "The health care system is changing..."? Yes, I admit at the WSMA we overuse that phrase. In fact, hasn't health care already changed? When I look at what is happening in the larger environment, what I see is policymakers who are trying to control the cost of health care by setting their sights on physicians, clinics, and hospitals, when, in reality, money is leaving the system.
</p>
<p>
As you'll soon read in the November/December issue of WSMA Reports, health care organizations increasingly rely on for-profit companies, including pharmaceuticals, EHR vendors, medical device manufacturers, technology consultants, and more, and these third-party vendors are rapidly driving up the cost of care while reimbursement for those who provide the care is rapidly declining.
</p>
<p>
How do we-in fact, can we-change this dynamic? I believe we can, but it won't be overnight, and it will take all of us in medicine working together to force change.
</p>
<p>
I'm so excited for this upcoming issue of WSMA Reports to hit your mailboxes so you can read more about what physician leaders believe needs to occur to evolve our current health care system for the benefit of patient care and the profession.
</p>
<p>
What's the WSMA's role in all of this? As I see it: Prepare the profession with the skills they need to be advocates within their clinics, systems, and organizations; and, secondly, fix the environment that is causing the system to be dysfunctional in the first place.
</p>
<p>
On the latter, as we have shared throughout this past year, policymakers and legislators are seeking ways to control cost in health care. We must show them the correct path and we need them to listen to and trust us-and that starts with building relationships.
</p>
<p>
Our political action committee, WAMPAC, headed by Alex Wehinger, has spent the last several months connecting our members with candidates seeking legislative or statewide office. Below Alex shares an update on what lies ahead.
</p>
<h3>Elections Are Less Than Two Weeks Away! Here's What You Need to Know</h3>
<p>
Alex Wehinger, WAMPAC Director
</p>
<p>
Ballots for the 2024 general election have been mailed to voters, featuring several initiatives and numerous candidates for office. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, Washington state will have a new governor, attorney general, and insurance commissioner for the first time in over a decade. There are also more than 100 seats in the Legislature up for election and a new House Health Care Committee chair yet to be determined.
</p>
<p>
WAMPAC, WSMA's nonpartisan campaign arm, works year-round to build connections with elected officials and ensure our state is the best place to practice medicine and receive care. Our work on campaigns helps promote WSMA's legislative agenda, which includes increasing Medicaid rates, defending against inappropriate scope of practice proposals, and supporting the health care workforce. The outcome of these elections impacts health care policy decisions and, ultimately, how care is delivered.
</p>
<p>
In addition to our standard campaign work, the WSMA is also engaging on two of this year's ballot initiatives pursuant to policy adopted by the House of Delegates. A resolution was approved by the 2024 House of Delegates directing the WSMA to oppose Initiative 2109, which would repeal the state's capital gains tax. During House debate, it was noted that passage of the initiative would significantly impact the state's budget, as the capital gains tax generates annual revenue of around $900 million. The WSMA also opposes Initiative 2117, which would repeal the state's Climate Commitment Act, pursuant to <a href="[@]wsma/about/policies/whats_our_policy/environmental-health/clean-air.aspx">policy adopted at the 2018 House of Delegates</a>.
</p>
<h4>Election resources</h4>
<p>
We know you care about electing candidates friendly to the physician community. Want to know how your state legislators supported the house of medicine during the 2023-24 legislative biennium? WAMPAC can help. As you fill out your ballot, be sure to check out the <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/wampac/wampac_legislator_report_card.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=x8ir9">WAMPAC Legislator Report Card</a>, which details your legislators' track record on issues important to you and your patients.
</p>
<p>
As a reminder, the general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you need to register to vote, there's information about how to do so on the <a href="https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington-state">secretary of state's website</a>. Voting in Washington state occurs by mail, so the outcomes of some elections may not be determined on election night as ballots continue to be counted over several days.
</p>
<p>
If you are interested in becoming more involved in campaigns, you can <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/wampac/give_to_wampac/wsma/advocacy/wampac/give_to_wampac.aspx?hkey=665ce949-b574-4ec7-8e5a-7a796233e5d7&amp;_zs=lfaFd1&amp;_zl=Q35o9">join the Diamond Club</a> at the bronze level for a discounted rate of $100 for a limited time. Diamond Club members receive special election updates, opportunities to connect with elected officials, recognition at WSMA events, and more.
</p>
<h4>Join the WAMPAC board of directors</h4>
<p>
WAMPAC is governed by a board of physicians representing each of the state's 10 congressional districts and whose responsibilities are to direct campaign activities, such as candidate interviews and contributions. The board has several open positions and is seeking applicants to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania counties, and the 5th Congressional District, which comprises all or part of 12 counties in Eastern Washington. You can <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/">locate your congressional district here</a> by entering your home address.
</p>
<p>
For those who are interested in politics, board membership provides an excellent opportunity to gain a better understanding of campaigns and connect with elected officials and candidates for office. The WAMPAC board holds two in-person meetings per year and Zoom meetings as needed.
</p>
<p>
If you are interested in seeking a position on the WAMPAC board of directors or have any questions about our campaign work, please <a href="mailto:alex@wsma.org">reach out to me</a>.
</p>
</div> | 10/25/2024 12:20:45 PM | 10/25/2024 12:18:07 PM | 10/25/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-oct-1-2024-showing-up-for-each-other-and-the-house-of-medicine | CEO Rounds: Oct. 1, 2024 - Showing Up for Each Other and the House of Medicine | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-oct-1-2024-showing-up-for-each-other-and-the-house-of-medicine | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-bramhall-2024-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds logo, with John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA President" /></div>
<h5>Oct. 1, 2024</h5>
<h2>Showing Up for Each Other and the House of Medicine</h2>
<p>
John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA President
</p>
<p>
<em>John Bramhall, MD, PhD, on building community, relationships, and impact in his inaugural address before the WSMA House of Delegates on Sunday, Sept. 29. Read an edited transcription below. For a look at what WSMA's past year looked like, don't miss our <a href="https://vimeo.com/1012940949">Year in Review video</a> (keep an eye out for your colleagues and friends!).</em>
</p>
<p>
Here we are at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning!
</p>
<p>
Thank you all for being here.
</p>
<p>
I know this is the traditional time for the incoming president's rite of passage, but wouldn't it be easier to face if we did it, say, at 8 p.m. after a cocktail reception?
</p>
<p>
We can only dream!
</p>
<p>
Ah well, thank you again for "showing up."
</p>
<p>
Showing up is so important.
</p>
<p>
The fact that I'm standing here, in front of you this morning, wearing both a gold medal and a tie is surely proof of Woody Allen's adage that 80% of success is just showing up!
</p>
<p>
I truly believe showing up yields three outcomes that matter to us, to the work at hand today, and in the work we do with the WSMA: <strong>community, relationships, and impact</strong>.
</p>
<p>
Let's talk about how showing up builds <strong>community</strong>. Look around-some 200 of you are here and highly engaged- just look at the energy levels in the reference committees yesterday! You are here to actively contribute, inform, and learn from each other, and to, quite literally, plot the future course of the WSMA.
</p>
<p>
Take a moment to look at your neighbor and thank them for showing up!
</p>
<p>
My own involvement with WSMA started with the simple act of showing up. Years ago, as I got settled in my work, a colleague and fellow countryman, Peter Dunbar, introduced me to the WSMA and to the Leadership Development Conference. Peter- and many of you know him directly- was president of the WSMA back then, very energetic, well-informed, and extremely well connected with state political leadership-he actually had quite a bit of influence on some decisions being made by then Gov. Christine Gregoire.
</p>
<p>
Seeing his influence on the house of medicine impressed me and the Leadership Development Conferences inspired me. Because I showed up for those and made my presence felt, in time, I was asked to join the WSMA board, then the EC, and here we are!
</p>
<p>
One of my favorite aspects of showing up is how doing so builds <strong>relationships</strong>. Across my WSMA journey, I've been fortunate to forge a wide range of relationships. I've come to know many physicians from all different walks of the profession. I hope to come to know many more of you during my year as president.
</p>
<p>
For those of you who don't know me yet, I'm a scientist by training and I've spent my entire career as an academic. Sorry! I studied biochemistry in the UK, came to the US as a Fulbright scholar, carried out research and teaching at UCLA and Stanford, got my medical education in La Jolla, and then came to Seattle for residency and stayed.
</p>
<p>
During clinical training, just like many of you, I found the team approach to problems- exemplified by "work rounds" and extensive collaboration was impressively effective. And, as I learned about anesthesia, I was really drawn to the OR environment-it's such a fascinating place. It's complicated. It's complex. A lot of stuff goes down day and night, and that appealed to me, that feeling of being part of a system that was humming.
</p>
<p>
And even though I'm a scientist at heart, I am also drawn to the overarching sense, really, of mystery in my work. We still are very unclear about the biophysical substrate of consciousness, the nature of awareness, so it stands to reason that we are even less clear about the exact mechanisms of chemical hypnosis. Anesthesia is a great example of safe, effective manipulation of processes that are incompletely understood. There is mystery, and that keeps me humble. This humility is not always an easy concept for physicians to introduce to patients.
</p>
<p>
I spent the past 30 years working primarily at Harborview where I was a medical director, an attending physician, and professor. It's been a privilege, in every way, to do this work. I stepped back from administrative work last month to allow time to serve as WSMA president but will maintain my toehold in clinical teaching and academics with the university.
</p>
<p>
I'm sure most of you have your own stories of how you came to be physicians, how you came to be here today; I'll look forward to finding out about some of these stories throughout the year.
</p>
<p>
Now let's consider how showing up creates <strong>impact</strong>.
</p>
<p>
Anyone wandering in and out of the reference committees yesterday would see the energy and focus of the WSMA being applied to a range of issues facing us: public health structure, AED distribution, access metrics, nano-plastic pollution, diaper access, air purification, firearm education- it's a really long list of issues that reflects our interconnectedness with, and concerns for, the well-being of Washingtonians.
</p>
<p>
Indeed, Washington state is a great place to live and it's also a pretty good place to be sick! We have first-rate emergency, medical, and surgical care provided by well-integrated teams. There's a long list of conditions where Washington leads the nation in quality of care and where physician practice is supported and sustained by state-of-the-art systems, and we attract smart doctors to the state.
</p>
<p>
But this is only part of the big picture. People can only benefit from our clinical excellence if they have access to it! There is a lot going on with our patients- nutrition, housing, gun violence, drug use, transmissible disease, mental health, relative poverty- a long list of problems that persist and are associated with poor health outcomes.
</p>
<p>
You've seen the distribution maps showing (to me, astonishing) the variation- to take one clear-cut example- in life expectancy between, and even within, various counties of our state. These local variations are also set in the context of an average US life expectancy that is already so much shorter than in other comparable advanced societies. Life expectancy is a complicated metric but it's a pretty objective, actuarial measure with robust data collection. Wherever you see this type of variation-for example in maternal mortality, or HIV infection rates-it's a sign that there are underlying local causes, causes that our members then want to identify and address, with a clear supportive role for the association in integrating, coordinating, and communicating.
</p>
<p>
Medicaid is relied upon by close to 2 million of our most vulnerable neighbors. We know access to care for patients on Medicaid is becoming more fragmented and we know the issues around that are more than complicated.
</p>
<p>
But decades of research and dozens of reports repeatedly show that evenly distributed, high-quality primary care for everyone improves health outcomes and life expectancy through more effective diagnosis, monitoring, management and coordinated prevention and treatment of conditions, reducing the need for more dangerous and costly care later on, particularly for vulnerable patients.
</p>
<p>
This is why our Medicaid Access Program is so vital. Your legislative team in Olympia is all over this now and will be all over it, redoubled, when the legislative session begins in January- notably, with newly restructured health care committees and many new state legislators. We will need all hands on deck to support our program and that includes all of you, along with all of our county and specialty societies. We will be looking for vocal support that calls out the Medicaid issue at every opportunity and at every legislator meeting. It's a state-level problem that will require an unrelenting state-level legislative effort.
</p>
<p>
In contrast, the problem with Medicare compensation is a national one. The Medicare physician fee schedule has a limited budget that does not include inflationary updates- the only Medicare fee schedule that does not receive them. MIPS, heavily dictated by Congress, is burdensome and resource intensive, leading to practices- especially smaller ones- being disproportionately penalized.
</p>
<p>
I don't think of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as an enemy. Medicare has a limited budget and must perform its mandated work within that budget and that budget structure is heavily controlled by Congress. Internal Medicare decisions are guided by smart epidemiologists, and the agency tries hard to optimize overall public health by directing funding to areas where it will prove most helpful. The CMS is also evidence-driven and rarely chooses expensive options without supporting evidence. There is a thread of utilitarian ethics that runs through these big decisions- the most good for the most people- that makes it tough for "special case" thinking.
</p>
<p>
Even so, the cuts to physician compensation, together with lack of inflation adjustments over the years are so clearly egregious, so impossible to justify, that we must seek action. The WSMA is coordinating outreach to the congressional delegation and our two senators on legislation that has been introduced, and there does seem to be a consensus that this is a problem that must be fixed.
</p>
<p>
What about the bane of our existence: prior authorization? This is a perennial WSMA issue- as evidenced by several resolutions that are under consideration at this year's House of Delegates - and we have made solid strides in reducing administrative burden for us all. That movement continues with proposed prior authorization process integration with EMRs, for example. Also, we have sympathy from local legislators as well as a national push again at the AMA level. We are striving to make practical headway and will align with others working to do the same, such as the hospital association, whose initiative analyzing denial rates from billing data aligns well with our concerns.
</p>
<p>
We will continue to focus on resisting scope expansion efforts-another constant, every year, all year, analyzing the many scope proposals and fighting those that jeopardize patient safety, as well as pushing back on disinformation and title misappropriation campaigns. We're the bear and we're always getting poked! The WSMA will continue to prioritize policy decisions that promote accurate diagnosis with safe and effective care for patients by ensuring that care is provided by people who have undergone appropriate training. It's just one more example of how the WSMA advances the cause of quality care for all Washingtonians.
</p>
<p>
On all of these issues, and more, we are asking you to show up.
</p>
<p>
Here's why all this really does matter.
</p>
<p>
I don't have to tell you that we have faced growing reputational challenges caused by partisan battles over the COVID-19 pandemic, science- and evidence-based care, and the prevalence of mis- and disinformation. All coupled with a more generalized societal distrust of "authority" and even scientific method. "Alternative facts!"
</p>
<p>
These challenges pose the risk of distracting us from what matters most: the care we provide to patients. Unfortunately, decisions made by others dramatically limit the time we can spend with our patients.
</p>
<p>
We know that time spent listening to, responding to, and treating patients is essential to providing the quality care patients deserve. We need time to build trust and provide the most effective care and treatment, and we'll continue to push back against time-based, RVU-based metrics imposed on us for evaluation of patient care.
</p>
<p>
In the year ahead, your WSMA is undertaking a campaign within which everything I've talked about will intersect. You see the campaign around you here today: Your Care Is at Our Core. We are undertaking this campaign to publicize how our members, you all, work with patients to make the best health care decisions and that <strong>their care is at our core</strong>.
</p>
<p>
We are strong when we stand together, and we are counting on you.
</p>
<p>
Thank you for the trust you've shown in me, thank you to Dr. Rue and Dr. Heshmati for leading the way to this day, and thank you all for showing up.
</p>
</div> | 10/1/2024 4:06:36 PM | 10/1/2024 3:46:13 PM | 10/1/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-aug-23-2024-how-your-engagement-makes-a-difference | CEO Rounds: Aug 23, 2024 - How Your Engagement Makes a Difference | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-aug-23-2024-how-your-engagement-makes-a-difference | <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 with Jennifer Hanscom" /></div>
<h5>Aug. 23, 2024</h5>
<h2>How Your Engagement Makes a Difference</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>The WSMA's guiding principle is being physician driven and patient focused. You are central to our decision-making, policymaking, advocacy, education, and, well, I could go on. We are able to represent your voice because you make your voice heard and we are always listening. To that end, here are five ways your voice makes a difference.</p>
<h3>You spoke, we listened</h3>
<p>We conducted a survey in July to better understand your interests and concerns. Some 245 physicians and physician assistants responded on topics about career satisfaction, noncompete agreements, and what the WSMA can do to support you. I thought you'd like to know how things shook out:</p>
<ul>
<li>A majority of respondents said they were subject to a noncompete agreement (57%).</li>
<li>The vast majority supported restrictions on the imposition of noncompetes, either in the form of a ban on their use (77%), significant limitations (15%), or some restrictions (5%). Just 2% said they supported noncompetes and opposed restrictions on their use.</li>
<li>Respondents subject to noncompete agreements noted that:</li>
<ul>
<li>98% included geographic restrictions.</li>
<li>91% included time-period restrictions.</li>
<li>A majority of agreements:</li>
<ul>
<li>Included provisions restricting the physical area where they may practice if they leave their current employer.</li>
<li>Imposed a set length of time a physician may not practice within a given physical area.</li>
</ul>
<li>Two less common, but still prevalent included restrictions around contacting and serving patients (47%) and line of business (46%).</li>
</ul>
<li>Interestingly, when looking at the demographic crosstabs of respondents, members who said they practiced at an independent group practice were more likely to be part of a noncompete agreement than average (65%), however, were slightly less likely to support a ban on noncompete agreements (61%).</li>
<li>The majority of survey respondents supported either a ban on noncompete agreements (76.54%) or significant limitations (15.23%). Just 4.53% of respondents supported only some restrictions on noncompete agreements and only 2.47% of respondents fully supported noncompete agreements and opposed any restrictions on them.</li>
</ul>
<p>You'll recall that in May, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule banning post-employment noncompete agreements as "unfair methods of competition" under the FTC Act, a development that could have a vast impact across the health care sector. In breaking news at the time of this writing, a <strong><a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/federal-judge-strikes-down-ftcs-noncompete-ban-nationwide.html">Texas court issued an injunction blocking implementation of the FTC rule</a></strong>, which was expected to go into effect Sept. 4, 2024. We will monitor the legal process around the FTC final rule and keep you posted on relevant developments in the weeks ahead.</p>
<h3>You asked for it, we're delivering it</h3>
<p>The survey noted above also provided an opportunity for us to better understand what tangible actions we can take to better support employed physicians. A majority of respondents (62%) noted they would appreciate help with reviewing physician employment contracts.</p>
<p>I'm happy to report that the WSMA Executive Committee recently approved a collaboration with a physician-focused contract review organization called <strong><a href="[@]wsma/membership/why_join_the_wsma_/partners-in-medicine/resolve.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=740m9">Resolve</a></strong> to assist WSMA members with employment contract reviews. Resolve currently partners with several state medical associations, including Nebraska, Oregon, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Florida, as well as national specialty societies such as the American College of Surgeons, American College of Radiology, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, and American Academy of Family Physicians.</p>
<p>Whether you are signing your first employment contract or renegotiating a current one, their team ensures your terms are fair. Even better, as a WSMA member, you receive a 10% discount on Resolve's services.</p>
<p>By engaging with Resolve, you'll be connected with a specialized attorney who will take your priorities into account, review your contract in full, make suggestions, and even negotiate on your behalf. Detailed compensation data unique to your specialty and location is also provided, so you always know what you should be earning. With the right data, insights, and expertise, Resolve ensures your contract is written fairly and you are earning the compensation you deserve. Our partners at Resolve note that contracts they review and negotiate typically see an average of $24,000 in increased compensation. To get started, go to <strong><a href="https://go.resolve.com/wsma?utm_campaign=Washington%20State%20Medical%20Association&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=partner-page">the Resolve website</a></strong> and use code WSMA10 at checkout.</p>
<h3>You-as WSMA members-set our policies</h3>
<p>At the WSMA we are constantly looking at ways we can improve representation of issues of importance to our physician members and their patients. Since our founding, we have held an annual meeting of our House of Delegates. That gathering is a critical way in which we hear from WSMA members who are active in their county medical associations or state specialty societies or sections, as well as from WSMA board members.</p>
<p>If you are interested in serving as a delegate to this year's annual meeting, please go to <strong><a href="[@]wsma/about_us/partner_organizations/wsma/about/partner_organizations/partner_organizations.aspx?hkey=906365b0-ebb4-491f-9dfa-407badb9a7e4&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=940m9">Partner Organizations</a></strong> on the WSMA website to contact your local county or state specialty society to see if they have open delegate positions.</p>
<p>For those attending the 2024 WSMA Annual Meeting in Spokane Sept. 28-29, be sure to register and arrange your accommodations in Spokane. Details on the <strong><a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/wsma/events/annual_meeting/annual_meeting.aspx?hkey=fea49254-3815-4dc9-8710-53ff2e3a100f&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=A40m9">meeting webpage</a></strong>.</p>
<h3>Make your voice heard via virtual reference committees</h3>
<p>For members not serving as delegates, you still have the opportunity to add your voice to the debate via our virtual reference committees. There, all WSMA members are invited to review and provide feedback on resolutions that will be debated during the WSMA Annual Meeting in Spokane. The virtual reference committees are secure, password-protected members-only discussion forums that enable all members greater access to the policymaking process.</p>
<p>Also, of critical importance: Testimony provided in the virtual reference committees is <strong>given equal weight to that of in-person testimony</strong>. Testimony provided in the virtual reference committees is compiled and provided to reference committee members prior to the Annual Meeting and made available to members attending the in-person reference committee hearings at the meeting. That commentary is closely reviewed by the reference committee members and considered equally with heard testimony at the meeting.</p>
<p>Resolutions are now posted in the virtual reference committees. These proposed policies, if adopted by the House of Delegates, will help determine WSMA advocacy on issues impacting patients and the physician community. To ensure these discussions are secure, those new to the virtual reference committees must submit a one-time request to join, then create a dedicated password. Learn more and join the discussion on our <strong><a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/virtual-reference-committees/wsma/events/annual_meeting/virtual-reference-committees.aspx?hkey=e30c0e9a-efb8-4160-821e-fa2485cc6bdd&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=B40m9">Virtual Reference Committees page</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Resolutions now available for discussion in the virtual reference committees:</p>
<ul>
<li>Resolution B-1: Public Health Advisory Board Resolution</li>
<li>Resolution B-2: Directing WSMA to Advocate for a Reduced Volume of Prior Authorizations</li>
<li>Resolution B-3: Improving Sexual Health in Washington State</li>
<li>Resolution B-4: Increasing Harm Reduction Education and Resources</li>
<li>Resolution B-5: Inactive Counties Section to the House of Delegates</li>
<li>Resolution B-6: Liability Protections and Mentorship Program for Physicians</li>
<li>Resolution B-7: Maintaining Medicaid Reimbursement for Audio-Only Telehealth Visits</li>
<li>Resolution B-8: Health Risks of Micro and Nano Plastics</li>
<li>Resolution B-9: Ensuring Effective Collaboration Between WSMA and County Medical Societies</li>
<li>Resolution B-10: Training Primary Care Physicians in Prescribing Medications for Psychiatric Conditions</li>
<li>Resolution B-11: Adolescent Screening for Unhealthy Social Media Use in the Health Care Setting</li>
<li>Resolution B-12: Removing Prior Authorization from the Buprenorphine Monoproduct</li>
<li>Resolution B-13: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Standing Committee</li>
<li>Resolution B-14: Supporting Physician Use of AI in Practice Settings</li>
<li>Resolution B-15: Expanding Payment for Visit Complexity for Office/Other Outpatient Services to Commercial Payers</li>
<li>Resolution B-16: Advancing Access to Health Savings Accounts for All Americans</li>
<li>Resolution B-17: Reporting of Health Care Access Metrics</li>
<li>Resolution B-18: Enhancing Public Safety Through Standardized Placement and Expanded Access of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Public Spaces</li>
<li>Resolution C-1: Supporting Access to Contraception Without Prior Authorization</li>
<li>Resolution C-2: Creating a Digital Repository for Sterilization and Hysterectomy Consents</li>
<li>Resolution C-3: Diaper Product Access and Retail Tax Exemption</li>
<li>Resolution C-4: Expanding Medicaid Coverage to Include Air Purifiers or Air Cleaners in Washington State for Individuals with Asthma</li>
<li>Resolution C-5: Urging Washington State Department of Transportation to Complete Full AMTRAK CASCADES Infrastructure Plan</li>
<li>Resolution C-6: Making Education on Firearm Injury Prevention a Standard Part of the Health Curriculum for Washington State High School Students</li>
<li>Resolution C-7: Hospital Pricing and Ensuring Equitable Distribution of Health Care Funds</li>
<li>Resolution C-8: Establishing the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men</li>
<li>Resolution C-9: Continuous Glucose Monitoring for People with Diabetes</li>
<li>Resolution C-10: Regarding Reducing Climate Impacts of Anesthesia</li>
<li>Resolution C-11: Maintaining Training Requirements for Coroners and Medical Examiners in Counties Under 40,000 Population</li>
<li>Resolution C-12: Support for Legislation that Improves Health via Implementation of a Tax on Extreme Wealth</li>
<li>Resolution C-13: Washington State Return-to-Service Loan Repayment</li>
<li>Resolution C-14: Washington State Senior Medical Corp</li>
<li>Resolution C-15: Washington State Single Source Credentialing</li>
<li>Resolution C-16: Support for the Health Engagement Hub Model of Addiction Treatment</li>
<li>Resolution C-17: Reforming the Prior Authorization Processes</li>
<li>Resolution C-18: Addressing Health Disparities in Maternal and Infant Mortality</li>
</ul>
<h3>You are seeking community</h3>
<p>We often hear from members that they have a desire to engage directly with other members who have similar interests or backgrounds. Among those interest groups is our Latinx Advisory Council. If you identify as Latinx and are interested in being part of that community and providing leadership for WSMA's Latinx members, we invite you to send a letter of intent and your CV to <strong><a href="mailto:milana@wsma.org">Milana McLead</a></strong> by Aug. 30. Meet the current council <strong><a href="[@]wsma/about_us/who_we_are/latinx-advisory-council/wsma/about/who_we_are/latinx-advisory-council.aspx?hkey=f8623efe-ee07-47f7-bc61-220f49369bc6&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=C40m9">here</a></strong>. The council meets bimonthly via Zoom to build connections, engage in activities such as National Latino Physician Day, share and address concerns, and more.</p>
<p>The WSMA exists for its members, by its members, and with its members. We are here for you. As always, thanks for all you do.</p>
</div> | 8/23/2024 12:32:33 PM | 8/20/2024 9:52:34 AM | 8/23/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-july-26-2024-how-to-advocate-for-patient-care-during-a-tumultuous-campaign-season | CEO Rounds: July 26, 2024 - How to Advocate for Patient Care During a Tumultuous Campaign Season | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2024/ceo-rounds-july-26-2024-how-to-advocate-for-patient-care-during-a-tumultuous-campaign-season | <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 with Jennifer Hanscom" /></div>
<h5>July 26, 2024</h5>
<h2>How to Advocate for Patient Care During a Tumultuous Campaign Season</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
The last few weeks in national politics have seemed surreal, with the unexpected happening nearly daily. This lyric from the Grateful Dead's famous song "Truckin'" seems especially apt right now: "What a long, strange trip it's been"! With the election just 102 days away, it's anyone's guess as to what will happen next.
</p>
<p>
In the WSMA world, we do have some insight into what's coming, as we look ahead to big issues for medicine at both the state and federal levels. I appreciate the way that so many of you are leaning in and getting involved this campaign season-it really does make a difference to our work and to the house of medicine. Lately I've been to numerous fundraisers hosted by WSMA members, and I've appreciated the opportunity to watch our members engage with the candidates on issues of importance to medicine and the profession. As is our tradition, the WSMA is glad to promote campaign fundraisers that are organized by WAMPAC, hosted by our members, or are of particular relevance to the physician community. If there's an event you'd like us to promote, or if you're interested in getting more involved in campaigns in any way, please don't hesitate to let us know.
</p>
<p>
Remember that these campaign events are important opportunities to discuss two priority issues for the physician community:
</p>
<ul>
<li>For state legislative or statewide races: Please urge state-level candidates to increase Medicaid reimbursement to all physician specialties. Find more information on WSMA's <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=qFXj9">Medicaid reimbursement and patient access to care advocacy</a>.</li>
<li>In meetings with congressional candidates, please continue to share how detrimental further cuts to Medicare are to our communities. Find more information on our <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/medicare_payment_reform/wsma/advocacy/medicare_payment_reform/medicare_payment_reform.aspx?hkey=d1a48c1c-af7b-4680-bd55-967338f3c977&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=rFXj9">Medicare physician payment advocacy</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>
I urge you to reach out and talk to your local legislators about Medicaid reimbursement and your members of Congress about the need for Medicare physician payment reform. If you check out the webpages linked above, you'll find everything you need-talking points, data references, etc.-to be fully equipped for these discussions.
</p>
<p>
Also, as mentioned in last week's WSMA Advocacy Report, ballots for the Aug. 6 primary election are being mailed to voters this week. If you need to register to vote, you can do so on the <a href="https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington-state">secretary of state's website</a>. As you consider legislative candidates, remember to review the WAMPAC Legislator Report Card in the 2024 WSMA Legislative Report to see how your local legislators voted on the issues most important to the house of medicine. The report card begins on page 23 of the <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/legislative_regulatory/wsma-legislative-report.aspx?WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=tFXj9">Legislative Report</a>, which can be downloaded by WSMA members.
</p>
<p>
In other news, health care got another unexpected IT hit last Thursday with a widespread outage to Microsoft systems leading to <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/how-the-crowdstrike-outage-is-impacting-wa-hospitals-and-patients/">local hospitals temporarily cancelling or rescheduling non-urgent medical appointments and surgeries</a>. While not a cyberattack, physician practices should still prepare for such incidents that are becoming all too frequent. The American Medical Association has a <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/sustainability/recent-cyber-attacks-ransomware-trends-and-cybersecurity-threats">good primer on cybersecurity and physician practices</a>.
</p>
<p>
With all that is impacting health care today, the WSMA remains steady in its commitment to representing the profession. We look forward to hearing what's on your minds at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates, Sept. 28-29 in Spokane. If you haven't yet registered and reserved your room at the Historic Davenport, <a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/wsma/events/annual_meeting/annual_meeting.aspx?hkey=fea49254-3815-4dc9-8710-53ff2e3a100f&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=xFXj9">be sure to do so soon</a>. The deadline for resolutions is Aug. 9, and they will soon be posted on our <a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/virtual-reference-committees/wsma/events/annual_meeting/virtual-reference-committees.aspx?hkey=e30c0e9a-efb8-4160-821e-fa2485cc6bdd&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=1GXj9">virtual reference committees</a> where you can lend your opinions to the matters before the House. The virtual reference committees are a great way for members to engage and have their voices be heard in WSMA's policymaking process. Member testimony posted in these virtual forums is considered equal to the testimony heard at the in-person reference committee hearings at the House of Delegates meeting, so I urge you to make your thoughts known in that forum.
</p>
<p>
As for voting on issues, remember the House of Delegates is made up of WSMA board members, county medical society delegates, state specialty society delegates, and a few special sections (e.g., the WSMA Medical Student Section). If you'd like to participate as a delegate, please contact your local county medical society, specialty society, or <a href="mailto:hod@wsma.org">the WSMA</a>. Learn more about the House of Delegates and the responsibilities of being a delegate on the <a href="[@]wsma/about_us/who_we_are/house-of-delegates/wsma/about/who_we_are/house-of-delegates.aspx?hkey=c5e98d40-6e37-4bc0-9bda-a7aa66e67919&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=3GXj9">WSMA website</a>.
</p>
<p>
All to say, there's never a dull moment and there's always something to do. Let's heed the wise words from the Dead and "keep truckin'"!
</p>
<p>
<em>CEO Rounds, formerly Weekly Rounds, will now be published monthly, to accommodate WSMA's newest member newsletter, WSMA Advocacy Report.</em>
</p>
</div> | 8/20/2024 9:49:46 AM | 8/16/2024 3:47:41 PM | 7/26/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| weekly-rounds-july-4-2024-three-things-to-know-before-watching-the-fireworks | Weekly Rounds: July 4, 2024 - Three Things to Know Before Watching the Fireworks | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2024/weekly-rounds-july-4-2024-three-things-to-know-before-watching-the-fireworks | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/Weekly-Rounds-Article-Graphic-2022-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Weekly Rounds logo with Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO" /></div>
<h5>July 4, 2024</h5>
<h2>Three Things to Know Before Watching the Fireworks</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
Every Fourth of July is something to celebrate in my household and not just because of our nation's independence! Besides that, every year on the Fourth, my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary-and this year is our 27th. To do it justice, we'll spend the day with our boys cheering for the Mariners. Fingers crossed that we'll be their lucky charm and they'll overcome their slump…in spite of the naysayers betting on the Orioles.
</p>
<p>
As you're prepping your July Fourth activities, here are a couple of reminders on things to know from the WSMA.
</p>
<h3>New neighborhood</h3>
<p>
It was exciting to start this week in our new office in the Financial District of downtown Seattle! We are now officially settled in our new digs. If you've ever visited us in person at our Belltown address, you will know how very difficult it was to navigate the building's security. Thankfully our visitors won't have as many challenges in our new space. We look forward to hosting meetings at our new office or in one of the many conference rooms we have access to.
</p>
<h3>Seeking input on non-compete agreements</h3>
<p>
We have been getting some great input on how our members feel about non-compete agreements. If you haven't yet <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7BLXC8Y">taken the survey</a>, we'd be grateful for your perspective. It will only take you 5-10 minutes. With resolutions debated at the 2023 WSMA House of Delegates, policy discussions in Olympia, and a Federal Trade Commission rule restricting their use, non-compete agreements are a current area of focus for the physician community (including at the recent American Medical Association Annual Meeting). As we participate in these conversations and advocate on your behalf, we want to know how non-competes have impacted you.
</p>
<h3>Don't miss the WSMA Annual Meeting</h3>
<p>
I've been attending WSMA annual meetings longer than I've been celebrating my wedding anniversary! The meeting is a highlight of the year for our organization as thought leaders come together to raise the physician voice, set policy for the WSMA, and build on the strength of our organization. As a physician driven, patient focused organization, this is our opportunity to hear from our members and ensure our agenda and policies are focused on what's important to you and your patients. The meeting, taking place Sept. 28-29 in Spokane, is open to all members, with opportunities for education, socializing, and networking. It's also a great way to witness first hand how policy is set at the WSMA. <a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/wsma/events/annual_meeting/annual_meeting.aspx?hkey=fea49254-3815-4dc9-8710-53ff2e3a100f&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=smoh9">Register today</a> and remember to <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1704478035241&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink">book your room at The Historic Davenport</a> by Aug. 28 to receive our special room rate.
</p>
<p>
For now, have fun today as you celebrate the Fourth of July and, as always, thanks for all you do.
</p>
</div> | 8/20/2024 9:49:47 AM | 7/8/2024 9:16:59 AM | 7/4/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| weekly-rounds-june-21-2024-making-connections-through-the-wsma | Weekly Rounds: June 21, 2024 - Making Connections Through the WSMA | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2024/weekly-rounds-june-21-2024-making-connections-through-the-wsma | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/Weekly-Rounds-Article-Graphic-2022-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Weekly Rounds logo with Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO" /></div>
<h5>June 21, 2024</h5>
<h2>Making Connections Through the WSMA</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
Have you played Connections, a relatively new game by the New York Times? Friends of mine are obsessed with playing it daily and I admit to thinking about joining them. In case you're not as familiar with that game as you are with Wordle, the concept is that there are 16 words from which you create four groups of four words that share a common thread. The connections are clever, always interesting, and often quite challenging. What I like the most about it is just that, the connections. And that got me thinking recently about all the ways the WSMA makes and fosters connections with you, the profession, and our broader community. Check out these examples.
</p>
<h3>New neighborhood coming soon for the WSMA</h3>
<p>
After five decades on the same block in Belltown, the WSMA is relocating to a new part of town as of July 1. Our new Seattle office address will be 1215 4th Ave., Suite 1901, Seattle, WA 98161. Our main phone line and fax numbers remain the same. Let's be sure to stay connected, so please take note of our new location. And while updating that information, another way to ensure we stay in touch is to update your member profile by signing into <a href="[@]?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=rvhg9">our website</a> and making sure your contact information is correct. If you need assistance, contact us <a href="mailto:membership@wsma.org">by email</a> or call 206.441.9762.
</p>
<h3>What do you think about non-competes?</h3>
<p>
With resolutions debated at the 2023 WSMA House of Delegates, policy discussions in Olympia, and a Federal Trade Commission rule restricting their use, non-compete agreements are a current area of focus for the physician community, including at the American Medical Association Annual Meeting I just attended. As we participate in these conversations and advocate on your behalf, we want to understand your thoughts on non-compete agreements and how they have impacted you. Please complete this <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7BLXC8Y">5-10-minute survey</a>.
</p>
<h3>Making physician leadership connections</h3>
<p>
I so enjoyed seeing many of you in person at the WSMA Leadership Development Conference in Chelan. While the blustery weather could have been better, the camaraderie was great-as always-and what a wonderful way to recharge our batteries.
</p>
<p>
To further develop your leadership skills and connect with other physician leaders, WSMA's Physician Leadership Course will once again be offered this fall. The fall course is offered virtually in order to appeal to physicians around the state and to accommodate your busy work schedules. The dates are Oct. 4-Dec. 13, beginning with two live virtual sessions on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5. Course participants will then engage in 11 weeks of online instruction and interaction that you can do at your own pace, finishing with a third live virtual session on Friday, Dec. 13. The deadline for registration is Sept. 4. This course is sure to fill up quickly so be sure to <a href="[@]eventdetail?eventkey=PLC100424&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=tvhg9">register soon</a>.
</p>
<h3>Connect and make policy at the WSMA Annual Meeting</h3>
<p>
<a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/wsma/events/annual_meeting/annual_meeting.aspx?hkey=fea49254-3815-4dc9-8710-53ff2e3a100f&amp;_zs=lfaFd1&amp;_zl=iGdg9">Registration is now open</a> for the 2024 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates, scheduled for Sept. 28-29 at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane. There are a few key deadlines to know, especially the Aug. 9 deadline for resolutions to be included in the delegate handbook. If you have an idea for a resolution but are not sure how to get started, visit the <a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/how_to_write_a_resolution/wsma/events/annual_meeting/How_to_Write_a_Resolution/how_to_write_a_resolution.aspx?hkey=a22cd977-aaed-4445-9ee2-6fc4716a7136&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=xvhg9">How to Write a Resolution</a> page on the WSMA website for everything you need to know about writing and submitting a resolution. If you are looking to serve as a county or state special society delegate, contact your society directly. For contact information, visit our <a href="[@]wsma/about_us/partner_organizations/wsma/about/partner_organizations/partner_organizations.aspx?hkey=906365b0-ebb4-491f-9dfa-407badb9a7e4&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=0whg9">Partner Organizations page</a>.
</p>
<h3>WSMA's Latinx members create community</h3>
<p>
We are excited to have Michael Galvez, MD, join the upcoming Zoom meeting of WSMA's Latinx Advsory Council on July 1 at 5:15 p.m. Dr. Galvez is the creator of National Latino and Latina Physician Day. He introduced legislation in 2023 to designate Oct. 1 as National Latino and Latina Physician Day and to encourage the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support Latinx medical students and aspiring students through increased funding, awareness, and retention programs. All are welcome, though a quick registration is required. <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdOGgrT0tHdIntTrePypiUTc5rlL2Dtd6#/registration">Register online</a>.
</p>
<p>
WSMA's Latinx member interest group is just one example of how the WSMA is creating opportunities for our members to network with each other. As a statewide organization, our members have asked us to create these opportunities for connections and we are responding! <a href="[@]wsma/membership/wsma-communities/wsma/membership/wsma-communities.aspx?hkey=d63f5896-20c4-4bc3-98e5-9ea442cc9adf&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=3whg9">Find out more here</a> and let us know of your interest.
</p>
<p>
Thanks for being part of the WSMA and for connecting with us. I'm always glad to hear from you. Meanwhile, let's go see how we do on the NYT Connections game!
</p>
</div> | 8/20/2024 9:49:47 AM | 6/21/2024 10:39:45 AM | 6/21/2024 12:00:00 AM |
| weekly-rounds-june-7-2024-five-things-to-know-as-the-sun-arrives | Weekly Rounds: June 7, 2024 - Five Things to Know as the Sun Arrives | CEO_Rounds | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2024/weekly-rounds-june-7-2024-five-things-to-know-as-the-sun-arrives | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/Weekly-Rounds-Article-Graphic-2022-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Weekly Rounds logo with Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO" /></div>
<h5>June 7, 2024</h5>
<h2>Five Things to Know as the Sun Arrives</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
It's been a busy week and as we emerged into sunshine after two wildly windy "atmospheric rivers," I headed to Chicago for the American Medical Association's annual meeting. During the next several days, there will be lots going on there, including an election for the AMA Council on Science and Public Health. Your WSMA president, Nari Heshmati, MD, is running for that council and I hope you'll join us in pulling for a win on that next week!
</p>
<p>
In the meantime, with so much going on, I wanted to flag five key items you need to know about while you're enjoying the sunshine.
</p>
<h3>Prior authorization bill expected to be introduced on June 11</h3>
<p>
An updated version of the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation to streamline and standardize the use of prior authorization within Medicare Advantage, will be introduced in the House and Senate on June 11. The WSMA has joined the AMA and other organizations in supporting the latest version of this bill sponsored by several representatives, including Washington <a href="https://delbene.house.gov/">Rep. Suzan DelBene</a>, Democrat from the 1st Congressional District.
</p>
<p>
During the 117th Congress (2021-2022), the act garnered more than 378 total bipartisan co-sponsors in the House and Senate and passed the full House of Representatives. In addition, the legislation secured endorsements from more than 500 organizations, including the AMA and numerous national and state medical societies. Unfortunately, the version of this bill that passed the House in the 117th Congress was never considered in the Senate because of its $16 billion "score," or anticipated fiscal impact, from the Congressional Budget Office, thus necessitating modifications to lessen the bill's cost.
</p>
<p>
While <a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f">electronic prior authorization rules</a> that were finalized by the Biden administration in <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-applauds-new-prior-authorization-regulation">January 2024</a> lowered the score substantially, the forthcoming bill that will be introduced in the 118th Congress has been amended to ensure it has minimal fiscal impact. Among other provisions, the legislation is intended to advance real-time prior authorization decisions for routinely approved services.
</p>
<p>
We will keep you up to date on this bill's journey through Congress. In the meantime, it's worth noting that Washington was one of the first states to pass legislation to modernize prior authorization along the lines of the federal bill. During the 2023 state legislative session, the WSMA successfully championed <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1357&amp;Year=2023&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 1357</a> to facilitate the transition to electronic prior authorization processes and shorten processing timelines across state-regulated insurance plans for both health care services and prescription drugs.
</p>
<p>
You can read more about the new state rules in place as of January 2024 on our <a href="[@]wsma/resources/Administrative_Simplification/prior-authorization.aspx?hkey=753be15f-bb92-4091-9bf5-a1e45ddda525&amp;WebsiteKey=c182ff6d-1438-4899-abc5-614681b54927&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=PObf9">Prior Authorization resources page</a>.
</p>
<h3>WSMA board votes to oppose Initiative 2117</h3>
<p>
At its May meeting, the WSMA board of trustees voted to support the "No on 2117" campaign, pursuant to WSMA <a href="[@]wsma/about/policies/whats_our_policy/environmental-health/clean-air.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=QObf9">policy adopted in 2018</a> that specifically supports investments in clean energy via a fee on large suppliers of CO2-emitting products. The policy was adopted by the WSMA House of Delegates in response to a then-pending ballot initiative that would have established a cap-and-invest system, a precursor to <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5126&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2021">Senate Bill 5126</a> from 2021, which created the Climate Commitment Act.
</p>
<p>
Initiative 2117 is also in direct opposition to WSMA policy that acknowledges climate change as a critical public health issue. The WSMA's House of Delegates, since 2016, has adopted policies that urge the association to work on solutions that both reduce pollution and address the issue of climate change to promote healthier, sustainable communities.
</p>
<p>
You can read WSMA's statement opposing Initiative 2117 <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Press_Release/2024/statement-from-washington-state-medical-association-opposing-initiative-2117?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=SObf9">on our website</a>.
</p>
<h3>WSMA Foundation seeks board members</h3>
<p>
The <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/wsma-foundation/about-the-foundation.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=TObf9">WSMA Foundation for Health Care Improvement</a>, a 501(c)(3), has several openings on its board. This fall, foundation membership will be voting on applicants for two physician-at-large positions as well as a position designed for a member of the WSMA board of trustees.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA Foundation's 2024 strategic plan focuses on:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Strengthening physician wellness and restoring the joy of practice.</li>
<li>Advancing health equity in all communities.</li>
<li>Honoring peoples' goals, values, and preferences.</li>
</ul>
<p>
In particular, the foundation has launched a <a href="https://foundation.wsma.org/?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=UObf9">Scholarship and Diversity Advancement Fund</a> to build a more diverse physician population in Washington state by supporting students who are underrepresented in medicine.
</p>
<p>
If you are interested in serving on the WSMA Foundation board, <a href="mailto:jen@wsma.org">send your cover letter and CV to me</a>.
</p>
<h3>Do you have a chief wellness officer?</h3>
<p>
This week's "Pearl of the Week" from the AMA focuses on the practice environment and, in particular, the role of the chief wellness officer. A health care organization's chief wellness officer has a significantly different role than those in other industries. In health care, the chief wellness officer focuses on the unique needs of health care professionals and works to improve the efficiency of their practice environment. Critical areas include reducing EHR burden, building leadership skills that foster a culture of wellness, and improving workflows and team functions.
</p>
<p>
Access the AMA's toolkits on the topic below:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhub.ama-assn.org/steps-forward/module/2767739?j=2368846&amp;sfmc_sub=368087502&amp;l=5497_HTML&amp;u=46989448&amp;mid=515000152&amp;jb=76&amp;utm_source=SFMC&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=632024&amp;utm_content=24-9986+POW+W142+06-03-24&amp;utm_campaign=PS2_Email_Newsletter_STEPSForward_Pearl&amp;utm_uid=&amp;utm_effort=RENPS2">Establishing a Chief Wellness Officer Position</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhub.ama-assn.org/steps-forward/module/2767764?j=2368846&amp;sfmc_sub=368087502&amp;l=5497_HTML&amp;u=46989450&amp;mid=515000152&amp;jb=76&amp;utm_source=SFMC&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=632024&amp;utm_content=24-9986+POW+W142+06-03-24&amp;utm_campaign=PS2_Email_Newsletter_STEPSForward_Pearl&amp;utm_uid=&amp;utm_effort=RENPS2">Chief Wellness Officer Road Map</a></li>
</ul>
<p>
Through its Wellness Action Committee, the WSMA Foundation is currently working on the development of organizational-level intervention plans to reduce burnout and improve wellness within medical practices and systems.
</p>
<p>
The best practices document will be unveiled at a WSMA Foundation CEO-CMO Wellness Summit on Oct. 16, 2024. CEOs, CMOs, and wellness leaders from medical groups, health care organizations, and systems will gather to learn about the new criteria and pledge to meet it. The summit will be held at SeaTac Conference Center. For details contact <a href="mailto:alyssa@wsma.org">Alyssa Crawford</a>.
</p>
<h3>Now available: WSMA podcast meets new health equity CME mandate</h3>
<p>
In response to the new state health equity CME mandate, the WSMA developed a four-part audio miniseries, "Health Equity in Medicine." The podcast features host Edwin Lindo, JD, who covers the history of racism in medicine and the impacts of the medical profession on health equity. He shares how your colleagues tackled these complicated issues-both structurally and individually-and provides ideas on how to incorporate equity principles into practice. The series is free for WSMA members, and nonmember pricing is also available.
</p>
<p>
This engaging educational series, available only on the WSMA website, fulfills the Washington state requirement of two hours of health equity education at least once every four years. The requirement is the result of <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5229-S.SL.pdf?q=20240307094750">Senate Bill 5229</a> passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021 and implemented in 2024 after a period of rulemaking by the Washington State Department of Health.
</p>
<p>
The entire four-part program totals two and a half hours, which meets the state requirement. Episodes include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: Definitions and Background</li>
<li>Episode 2: Impact of Medical Profession on Health Equity</li>
<li>Episode 3: Individual Interventions with Estell Williams, MD</li>
<li>Episode 4: Structural Interventions with Mabel Bodell, MD, and Bindu Nayak MD</li>
</ul>
<p>
WSMA members may <a href="[@]wsma/foundation/health-equity/health-equity-in-medicine-podcast.aspx?_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=aObf9">access the episodes on the WSMA website</a>. This activity is approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em><sup>TM</sup>.
</p>
<p>
Everything we do here at the WSMA is to support our members and the physician community. We'll never stop on that count, but we are always grateful for your engagement. Thanks for everything you do!
</p>
</div> | 8/20/2024 9:49:48 AM | 6/7/2024 10:31:48 AM | 6/7/2024 12:00:00 AM |