| closure-of-seattle-obgyn-underscores-need-for-reimbursement-reform | Closure of Seattle OBGYN Underscores Need for Reimbursement Reform | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-22/closure-of-seattle-obgyn-underscores-need-for-reimbursement-reform | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 22, 2023</h5>
<h2>Closure of Seattle OBGYN Underscores Need for Reimbursement Reform and Support for Independent Practice</h2>
<p>After 73 years serving patients and its community, Seattle OBGYN <a href="https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/definitely-blindsided-thousands-families-scrambling-after-sudden-seattle-obgyn-closure/3D6IK5VTRBBUTHKYUWVGY4BVRA/">recently announced</a> it will permanently close at the end of the year. Practice physician Judy Kimelman, MD, wrote in <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/closure-of-seattle-clinic-after-73-years-adds-to-health-care-pain/">an op-ed to The Seattle Times</a> that the closure will impact more than 16,000 patients including more than 300 who are currently pregnant. Dr. Kimelman cited low reimbursement, especially from Medicaid and Medicare, as well as difficulty recruiting physicians as causes contributing to the independent practice's closure.</p>
<p>The WSMA is deeply saddened by the pending closure of Seattle OBGYN and we extend our condolences to all of the physicians and patients who are impacted. We're also redoubled in our resolve to address some of the root causes of the closure, such as subpar Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements that strain physician organization finances and contribute to staff recruitment challenges.</p>
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<li>The WSMA is continuing our work in Olympia to raise all Medicaid reimbursement rates for physician services at least up to the equivalent paid by Medicare to better reflect the cost of care delivery. Legislators need to hear from you on how low Medicaid reimbursement rates impact your practice and ability to serve Medicaid patients. Lend your voice to the cause <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/?vvsrc=%2Fhome">here</a>. For those interested in advocating in person on Medicaid rates and other priority issues, <a href="[@]wsma/events/legislative_summit/wsma/events/wsma_legislative_summit/legislative_summit.aspx?hkey=795731a5-79ba-45b0-b78b-b9dfbfc336e5">register to attend the 2024 WSMA Legislative Summit</a> in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.</li>
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<li>At the federal level, the WSMA is working both to <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-8/contact-your-member-of-congress-today-to-stop-year-end-medicare-cuts.aspx?_zs=lfaFd1&amp;_zl=nPsI9">stop the pending cuts proposed by CMS and also to support long-term reform</a>. Learn more and contact your congressional representatives today to support these efforts.</li>
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<p>As we lament the loss of a venerable physician practice, it's imperative that the physician community does all that it can to improve operating conditions and promote the viability of independent physician practice. Please join us in providing condolences to all impacted by the closure of Seattle OBGYN and in advocating for our state's physicians and patients.</p>
</div> | 11/22/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| reminder-contact-your-member-of-congress-to-stop-year-end-medicare-cuts | Reminder: Contact Your Member of Congress to Stop Year-End Medicare Cuts | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-22/reminder-contact-your-member-of-congress-to-stop-year-end-medicare-cuts | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 22, 2023</h5>
<h2>Reminder: Contact Your Member of Congress to Stop Year-End Medicare Cuts</h2>
<p>With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposing a 3.4% reduction in Medicare's physician payments for 2024, the WSMA is urging all members to contact their congressional representatives today and call on them to stop the cuts. There's less than two months left in the year, so please make this a priority. Everyone agrees the Medicare physician payment system is broken, and it's time for Congress to do something about it. <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f108965%2fRespond">Please contact your representative and senators and urge them to cancel the cuts.</a></p>
<p>The WSMA is also urging Washington's congressional delegation to sign on to H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. The legislation applies a much-needed permanent inflation-based update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor. <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-8/contact-your-member-of-congress-today-to-stop-year-end-medicare-cuts">Learn more about how you can help our advocacy on this long-term Medicare payment reform</a>.</p>
</div> | 11/22/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsma-urges-opposition-to-naturopath-scope-proposal-in-comments-to-department-of-health | WSMA Urges Opposition to Naturopath Scope Proposal in Comments to Department of Health | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-22/wsma-urges-opposition-to-naturopath-scope-proposal-in-comments-to-department-of-health | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 22, 2023</h5>
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<h2>WSMA Urges Opposition to Naturopath Scope Proposal in Comments to Department of Health</h2>
<p>Last week, the WSMA submitted formal comments laying out our opposition to <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2023/november-8/deadline-approaching-for-comments-on-naturopath-scope-expansion-effort">a scope of practice expansion requested by the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians currently under review by the Washington State Department of Health</a>. In our comments, we correct several misrepresentations by the naturopathic association in its proposal and urge the Department of Health to strongly oppose all elements of the proposal that would compromise the safety of our patients and the effectiveness and quality of care delivered in our state. Read the <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/newsletters/2023/wsma-naturopath-doh-sunrise-review-final-11152023.pdf]">WSMA comment letter</a>, submitted on behalf of our nearly 13,000 physician and physician assistant members.</p>
<p>Thank you to all physicians, PAs, and health care stakeholders who engaged with our calls to action on this issue to join the WSMA in opposition to this proposal. The Department of Health closed its public commenting period on the naturopath's proposal this week. The next step in the process will be a hearing in the spring. We will keep members apprised of new developments closer to that time.</p>
</div> | 11/22/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |