Aug. 2, 2024
Access to Care Can't Wait: How to Engage with WSMA's Medicaid Advocacy This Summer
Increasing both Medicaid reimbursement for all physicians and practitioners and access to care for Washingtonians on Medicaid is WSMA's No. 1 legislative advocacy priority. As we look ahead to the 2025 legislative session, we know that to be successful we'll need the full support of the physician community. Here's how you can help while getting up to speed on our advocacy campaign.
Join us for a campaign update webinar with Q&A
The WSMA is holding two lunch-hour webinars, on Thursday, Sept. 19 and Thursday, Dec. 12, where we'll provide updates on our efforts to advance a budget ask to increase Medicaid reimbursement for all specialties. Importantly, we will discuss how we can continue to partner in our advocacy efforts to be successful in 2025. No registration needed; Zoom links provided below.
Sept. 19 starting at noon PT
WSMA Medicaid Advocacy Update
Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Dec. 12 starting at noon PT
WSMA Medicaid Advocacy Update
Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Be sure to add one of these meetings to your calendar (and be sure to include the Zoom link for joining the webinar at the appropriate time).
While we are in the interim months between legislative sessions, our work toward Medicaid rate increases continues unabated. WSMA staff, leadership, and membership all have crucial roles to play between now and the 2025 legislative session in educating lawmakers, the media, and the public about the necessity of improving Medicaid reimbursement rates for all specialties and all regions.
WSMA staff has been meeting with legislative candidates across the state, building support for our proposal. We've also been hard at work with local reporters and media to raise awareness of the issue. In case you missed it, see this Seattle Times op-ed from the WSMA on the growing problem of accessing outpatient care in our state. Also see this excellent two-part story (part 1 and part 2) in the Washington Observer, which features WSMA specialist members and covers in detail the problems with Medicaid reimbursement, as well as the covered lives assessment solution offered by the WSMA.
We continue to work behind the scenes with legislators and policymakers on the covered lives assessment proposal, laser-focused on ironing out differences and coming to consensus on a plan to leverage federal dollars, increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, and improve access to primary and specialty services across the state.
A solution can't come too soon. Recently, the WSMA learned that, after 50 years in business, Cascade Orthopaedics in Auburn will close its doors at the end of July. As one member put it, "the dominos continue to fall." The struggle of medical groups in our state is real, and our state legislators need to hear from you, frequently and regularly, until a solution is in place.
Continue to lobby your lawmakers on behalf of a stronger Medicaid!
Send a message today to your local legislators and vocalize the need to increase Medicaid reimbursements for all physician specialties. Remind them that medical group closures do not just harm access to care for Medicaid patients, but all patients in the community. Send a message at takeaction.wsma.org, where you'll also find resources and data ready for your use.
Consider scheduling a meeting with your legislator and let them know how low reimbursements are impacting patient care in your practice. Your experiences and knowledge of practicing medicine in your community can be invaluable to your local legislators and can help support WSMA's legislative and policy agenda. Find step-by-step instructions on how to schedule a meeting with your legislator on the WSMA website. Find Medicaid data and resources for your discussion on takeaction.wsma.org.
The actions we take now will help determine our success in the months ahead. All Medicaid patients deserve the same access to whole-body care that Medicare and privately insured patients receive. It's time for the state to stop denying essential care to 2 million Washington residents. Please act today.