| bipartisan-medicare-physician-payment-legislation-introduced | Bipartisan Medicare Physician Payment Legislation Introduced | Early career | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 17/bipartisan-medicare-physician-payment-legislation-introduced | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/Medicare-iStock-1047505000-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="image of Medicare documents" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 17, 2026</h5>
<h2>Bipartisan Medicare Physician Payment Legislation Introduced</h2>
<p><em>Take action to support federal legislation to improve Medicare payment</em>
</p>
<p>
The recently introduced Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, H.R. 8163, takes a major step in modernizing Medicare physician payment. Introduced by Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, (R-NC), and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), the bipartisan bill modernizes key budget neutrality rules, ensuring fairness and predictability for medical practices and stability for physicians and patients.
</p>
<p>
According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 33% from 2001 to 2026. Without capping these damaging cuts to physician Medicare reimbursement and other key reforms, doctors are unable to sustainably run their medical practices and are driven to retire or consider consolidating into larger groups, potentially leading to decreased access for patients in rural and underserved communities.
</p>
<p>
H.R. 8163 promotes reimbursement stability and protects physicians by updating the budget neutrality threshold; mandating that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services evaluate the actual base costs for running a medical practice at least every five years; and revising how CMS addresses incorrect billing codes.
</p>
<p>
Currently, the budget neutrality threshold dictates that if spending increases exceed $20 million in one area, they must be offset by other costs in health care. The $20 million threshold has remained the same since the early 1990s and has never been adjusted for inflation. H.R. 8163 would modernize this outdated provision, providing a long overdue threshold increase to $54.3 million and indexing it every five years based on the cumulative percentage increase in the Medical Economic Index.
</p>
<p>
This bill requires CMS to regularly evaluate medical practice costs (i.e., clinical wage rates, equipment, medical supplies, etc.) to prevent large swings in payment rates. In addition, H.R. 8163 directs CMS to correct major errors in billing code estimates by reviewing actual claims data and making prospective rate adjustments, preventing deep, unnecessary cuts under current budget neutrality guidelines that stem from inaccurate utilization projections.
</p>
<p>
Make your voice heard: <a href="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/mh_0pW4jamO3xc7U0ny5NQ">Contact your member of Congress</a> and urge them to support commonsense Medicare payment reforms by cosponsoring H.R. 8163. This bill is a step in the right direction to promote viability of physician practices and patient access to care.
</p>
</div> | 4/17/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| 2026-seattle-king-county-free-clinic-is-apr-23-26 | 2026 Seattle-King County Free Clinic is Apr. 23-26 | Early career | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/April 10/2026-seattle-king-county-free-clinic-is-apr-23-26 | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="2026 Seattle-King County Free Clinic infographic" src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/april/English-2026-Patient-Graphic.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 10, 2026</h5>
<h2>2026 Seattle-King County Free Clinic is Apr. 23-26</h2>
<p>
<em>For our King County members: Help us spread the word!</em>
</p>
<p>
The WSMA is proud again <a href="https://seattlecenter.org/skcclinic/partners/">to join the partners</a> of the Seattle/King County Clinic, the yearly health care event offering free dental, vision, and medical services to those in need. All are welcome to the three-day free clinic, which takes place in the Fisher Pavilion of the Seattle Center starting at 5:30 a.m. on April 23. All services are free, no ID is required, and interpreters are available.
</p>
<p>
Volunteers still needed! Visit <a href="http://www.seattlecenter.org/volunteers">seattlecenter.org/volunteers</a> to see the list of clinical needs that exist or simply go to the volunteer registration page and see what openings are available. Thursday and Sunday are always good places to start.
</p>
<p>
<strong>About the free clinic</strong>
<br />
Of the patients who seek services, approximately 95% are housed, 49% are insured, and only 36% are unemployed. As a recent <a href="https://seattlecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Big-Seattle-free-clinic-shows-the-gaps-in-our-health-care-system-_-Seattle-Times.pdf">Seattle Times op-ed</a> that featured the clinic shared, there are many reasons people may struggle to access or afford health care.
</p>
<p>
Help spread the word about the free clinic! Printable flyers, social media graphics, and suggested text are available at <a href="http://www.seattlecenter.org/patients">seattlecenter.org/patients</a>. The clinic's <a href="https://seattlecenter.org/skcclinic/faq/">FAQs</a> may also be a helpful resource. Stay connected to clinic updates by following them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SKCClinic/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seattlekingcountyclinic/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://linkedin.com/company/skcclinic">LinkedIn</a>.
</p>
</div> | 4/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| lgbtqiaplus-physicians-and-physician-assistants-lets-connect | LGBTQIA+ Physicians and Physician Assistants: Let's Connect! | Early career | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/April 10/lgbtqiaplus-physicians-and-physician-assistants-lets-connect | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image of multicolored dialogue between silhouette figures" src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/april/Multicolor-word-bubbles-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 10, 2026</h5>
<h2>LGBTQIA+ Physicians and Physician Assistants: Let's Connect!</h2>
<p>
<em>WSMA's latest online community for greater connection and community</em>
</p>
<p>
The WSMA is excited to announce that we have launched an online LGBTQIA+ member community! As a WSMA member, you can join this community and have access to peers and colleagues who, like you, identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or elsewhere on the spectrum of gender identity or sexual orientation. By joining, you'll have access to a private, secure platform where you can support each other professionally, recruit other LGBTQIA+ physicians and physician assistants, and develop and inform advocacy strategies within the WSMA. WSMA members and committees who are currently using our new community platform are raving about its ease of use and customizable features.
</p>
<p>
The new LGBTQIA+ community is a member-led, member-driven space, so feel free to make it your own! All respectful engagement is encouraged and appreciated, including, but not limited to:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Chatting with colleagues.
</li>
<li>Collaborating on resolutions.
</li>
<li>Sharing articles for discussion.
</li>
<li>Planning and promoting events.
</li>
<li>Posting career opportunities and highlights.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
It's easy to join the community: Simply click <a href="https://community.wsma.org/registrations/groups/156010">here</a> to begin. Once you've registered your interest in signing up, you'll receive an email inviting you to set up your profile and from there you can join the conversation.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Other available WSMA communities</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/membership/wsma-communities/wsma/membership/wsma-communities.aspx?_zs=A3aFd1&amp;_zl=8vmIA">WSMA's member communities</a> are bringing members together in private and secure online forums where participants can share concerns, speak openly, seek guidance, and enjoy solidarity with fellow physicians and physician assistants. A modern version of the "doctors' lounge," so to speak.
</p>
<p>
To date, the WSMA offers the following communities. Don't see yours? Create your own and invite your peers.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<ul>
<li>AI in Health Care</li>
<li>Center for Leadership Development Alumni</li>
<li>County Society Leadership</li>
<li>DEIB</li>
<li>Early Career Community</li>
<li>Latinx Community</li>
<li>LGBTQIA+</li>
<li>Medical Officers Collaborative</li>
<li>Rural Regional Section</li>
<li>Virtual Reference Committees and Policy</li>
</ul>
<p>
These forums, whether based on shared interests, geography, or identities, provide a space where you can connect on a personal level.
</p>
<p>
Connections matter. Your community is accessible via email or mobile app, making it easy to connect, post, and share anytime, anywhere. If you don't see a community that speaks to you, consider pulling some friends together and propose a new WSMA community.
</p>
<p>
Ready to connect? <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/wsma-communities/wsma/membership/wsma-communities.aspx?hkey=d63f5896-20c4-4bc3-98e5-9ea442cc9adf">Get started</a>.
</p>
</div> | 4/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |