| bipartisan-medicare-physician-payment-legislation-introduced | Bipartisan Medicare Physician Payment Legislation Introduced | Latest_News | 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 H.R. 8163 would modernize this outdated provision, providing a long overdue threshold increase to $54.3 million and indexing it every five years based on the cumulative percentage increase in the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 |
| latest-updates-on-wiser-prior-authorization-pilot-program | Latest Updates on WISeR Prior Authorization Pilot Program | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 17/latest-updates-on-wiser-prior-authorization-pilot-program | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/Senior-male-patient-with-physician-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="image of senior male patient with physician" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 17, 2026</h5>
<h2>Latest Updates on WISeR Prior Authorization Pilot Program</h2>
<p><em>Virtix announces Gold Card Program; CMS delays services</em>
</p>
<p>
Responding to concerns raised by our members and guided by our extensive policies around prior authorization, the WSMA continues to raise concerns with the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Initiative pilot program that launched earlier this year and applies prior authorization requirements for the first time ever to traditional Medicare plans. Read on for the latest on this priority issue for patients and the physician community.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Virtix Health announces WISeR Gold Card Exemption Program</strong>
<br />
Virtix Health, in coordination with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has announced the upcoming launch of the WISeR Gold Card Exemption Program, set to debut July 6. The program will recognize eligible physicians and suppliers in Washington state who consistently meet Medicare coverage criteria by granting exemptions from prior authorization and prepayment review requirements for WISeR services.
</p>
<p>
Physicians achieving gold card status may benefit from streamlined administrative processes and reduced review requirements. A Gold Card Exemption Program <a href="https://virtixhealth.com/wiser_model/gold-carding-program">Fact Sheet</a> is now available through the Virtix Health WISeR Resource Center, and additional program details are available at Virtix Health's <a href="https://virtixhealth.com/wiser_model/gold-carding-program">website</a>.
</p>
<p>
<strong>CMS delays implementation of two WISeR Model services</strong>
<br />
CMS has announced a delay in implementing two services under the WISeR Model pilot, according to a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-06616.pdf">notice</a> published in the Federal Register: deep brain stimulation for essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, and percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression for spinal stenosis. CMS indicated that a new implementation date for these services will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.
</p>
<p>
<strong>WSMA advocacy</strong>
<br />
The WSMA continues to <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/wsma-follow-up-letter-to-cmmi-03262026.pdf">raise concerns</a> with federal policymakers regarding the WISeR Model, citing its impact on patient access to care and practice operations. Physicians have reported increased administrative burden and delays in care delivery associated with prior authorization requirements. The WSMA remains actively engaged with CMS and congressional stakeholders to advocate for refinements that reduce unnecessary barriers and support timely patient care.
</p>
<p>
At WSMA's urging, several members of Washington state's congressional delegation signed onto a <a href="https://aboutbgov.com/blkR">letter</a> urging appropriators to block funding for the model.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Are you subject to WISeR? Share your experience</strong>
<br />
We strongly encourage impacted practices to share their experiences with WISeR with us—including administrative challenges, access issues, and impacts on patient care (positive or negative). The WSMA is uniquely positioned to serve as a conduit between Washington physicians, members of Congress, Virtix, Noridian, CMS, and the media. Your experience under WISeR is critical to informing ongoing congressional oversight and future CMS decision-making. Please contact WSMA Director of Policy Jeb Shepard at <a href="mailto:jeb@wsma.org">jeb@wsma.org</a> to share your feedback.
</p>
</div> | 4/17/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| unpacking-the-2026-session-pharmacist-scope-of-practice | Unpacking the 2026 Session: Pharmacist Scope of Practice | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 17/unpacking-the-2026-session-pharmacist-scope-of-practice | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/Rx_bottle_doctor_laptop_645x425.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="image of Rx bottle in hands of physician" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 17, 2026</h5>
<h2>Unpacking the 2026 Session: Pharmacist Scope of Practice</h2>
<p><em>WSMA to work with pharmacists on appropriate scope of practice update</em>
</p>
<p>
In recent legislative sessions, the Washington State Pharmacy Association has brought forward legislation to modify pharmacists' scope of practice in Washington state. As part of these efforts, in 2025 the state Department of Health conducted a "sunrise review," a process evaluating the safety and appropriateness of health profession scope expansion proposals. Working in concert with the physician community, WSMA’s advocacy has defeated these proposals in both the legislative and regulatory arenas to date.
</p>
<p>
In response to our concerns on varied legislative frameworks that would have authorized broad independent diagnostic and prescriptive authority for pharmacists (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=6019&amp;Year=2023&amp;Initiative=false">SB 6019</a> from 2024; <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5513&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">SB 5513</a> from 2025; and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5924&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">SB 5924</a> from 2026), the WSPA significantly narrowed its proposal during the 2026 session with a <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5924-S.pdf?q=20260408163632">substitute version of the bill</a>. However, the WSMA maintained concerns with the narrowed approach regarding patient safety, care coordination, technology, and professional standards, among other issues.
</p>
<p>
Despite WSMA's opposition, legislation expanding pharmacists' scope passed the state Senate for the first time with bipartisan support as legislators cited challenges around health care workforce shortages and patients' access to care. Ultimately, the WSMA was able to defeat this proposal during the 2026 session, but considerable momentum remains on this issue at the state Legislature.
</p>
<p>
In advance of the 2027 session, legislative leaders— including a pharmacist legislator in both the House and Senate—have urged the WSMA to work with pharmacists on a compromise using the amended, narrowed version of the bill as a starting point. The WSMA respects its pharmacist colleagues and will work in good faith to try to find agreement on revisions to pharmacists' scope of practice that will appropriately expand access to care while ensuring patient safety guardrails. We will keep you updated in future Advocacy Reports with any developments on these discussions.
</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 | Latest_News | 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! | Latest_News | 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 LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ 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 Online Forum</li>
<li>Early Career Community</li>
<li>Latinx Community</li>
<li>LGBTQ+ Online Forum</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 |
| one-residency-program-expanded-another-started-in-spokane | One Residency Program Expanded, Another Started, in Spokane | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/April 10/one-residency-program-expanded-another-started-in-spokane | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="doctor and patient reviewing information on a tablet" src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/april/getty-images-c2PPCDPMB-A-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 10, 2026</h5>
<h2>One Residency Program Expanded, Another Started, in Spokane</h2>
<p>
<em>Spokane welcomes new psychiatric and internal medicine residency slots</em>
</p>
<p>
In 2023, the WSMA's workforce work group published a report with recommendations to policymakers and health industry leaders on <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/health-care-workforce/wsma/advocacy/advocacy-topics/health-care-workforce.aspx?hkey=4241c0b4-8fe5-413c-87cb-67c3d0a4c09b">short-term and long-term solutions to Washington state's health care workforce shortages</a>. Among those recommendations were support for psychiatry and primary care residency programs. In a positive development, and with celebrations from March's Match Day still fresh on our minds, we're pleased to report two residency-related developments in Spokane to help bolster our state's workforce:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Per a report from <a href="https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2026-03-29/spokane-has-robust-medical-education-its-residency-programs-are-working-to-catch-up">Spokane Public Radio</a>, the Providence/Sacred Heart psychiatry residency program in Spokane dedicated to underserved communities has expanded. With funding from the federal government and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the program added several residency spots, now training six residents per year throughout the program. Providence Chief Medical Officer Rebecca Mallo, MD, says the students matched to the program this spring are all connected to Washington state
</li>
<li>From the same report comes news that MultiCare has opened a new clinic at Deaconess Hospital for internal medicine residents. Funding was made possible partly through a state grant facilitated by Sen. Marcus Riccelli as well as health system dollars. MultiCare Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Knowles, MD, says the clinic began seeing patients earlier this month and will welcome its first class of medical residents in June 2027. The residency program director is WSMA President-Elect Matt Hollon, MD, who helps lead recruitment efforts that aim to cultivate local physicians-in-training who are more likely to remain in the area.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
Congratulations to these forward-thinking professionals and institutions for helping to strengthen our state's workforce and the health of Washingtonians.
</p>
</div> | 4/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| washington-joins-world-health-organization-global-outbreak-alert-and-response-network | Washington Joins World Health Organization Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/April 10/washington-joins-world-health-organization-global-outbreak-alert-and-response-network | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/april/Earth-Image.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="image of a hemisphere of Earth from space" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 10, 2026</h5>
<h2>Washington Joins World Health Organization Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network</h2>
<p>
<em>Move ensures Washington stays connected to global health intelligence</em>
</p>
<p>
The Washington State Department of Health has been accepted into the <a href="https://goarn.who.int/">World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network</a>. Washington is the fifth state health department to apply and be accepted since the <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/united-states-completes-who-withdrawal.html">United States fully exited</a> the WHO in January.
</p>
<p>
By joining the network, the Department of Health ensures Washington state's continued access to critical global intelligence for responding to acute state and global health needs. The WHO network includes, worldwide, more than 360 public health agencies, national governments, academic centers, laboratories, and response organizations focused on rapidly detecting and responding to public health emergencies across the globe.
</p>
<p>
Joining the WHO network is the latest move by Washington state to protect public health from recent federal decisions running counter to decades of health expert consensus. Last month, the WSMA <a href="https://www.wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March%206/legislature-passes-wsma-priority-legislation-to-preserve-access-to-preventive-services-and-vaccines">celebrated passage of House Bill 2242</a> moving decision-making authority on vaccines and other preventive health services from the federal government to the Department of Health. Earlier in 2025, Washington state, Oregon, California, and Hawaii formed the <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/immunizations-west-coast-health-alliance/wsma/resources/Immunizations__West_Coast_Health_Alliance/immunizations-west-coast-health-alliance.aspx?hkey=d7440c9a-dfeb-48af-a755-2a30113cd05a">West Coast Health Alliance</a> to ensure public health recommendations in the four-state region are guided by science, effectiveness, and safety. The WSMA supported these efforts and will continue to <a href="https://www.wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Press_Release/2025/president-john-bramhall-md-phd-reaffirms-the-wsmas-commitment-to-medical-ethics">endorse actions and policy based on science and evidence-based medicine</a>.
</p>
</div> | 4/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| webinar-the-art-and-science-of-constructive-disagreement | Webinar: The Art and Science of Constructive Disagreement | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/April 10/webinar-the-art-and-science-of-constructive-disagreement | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="doctor and patient reviewing information on a tablet" src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/april/getty-images-oPiYRPoiC2Y-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 10, 2026</h5>
<h2>Webinar: The Art and Science of Constructive Disagreement</h2>
<p>
<em>Tools to replace correction with connection and restore patient trust</em>
</p>
<p>
Disagreement can be a source of insight and innovation—or a source of stress and drama. <a href="https://wsha-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/sa8fn7jXQIW1YP-VVUdzoA">Next Wednesday, April 15</a>, WSMA members are invited to join Julia Minson, professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a leading expert on the psychology of disagreement who recently featured in our WSMA Reports cover story "<a href="https://www.wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2025/truth-noise-and-nonsense-in-medicine.aspx">Truth, Nonsense, and Noise in Medicine</a>," as she shares insights from her new book,
"How to Disagree Better." Drawing on decades of cutting-edge research, Minson will offer concrete, evidence-based strategies for improving conversations across disagreement in the workplace, among family members, and in civic life. Participants will have the chance to immediately try out these techniques through interactive exercises, small-group debriefs, and a live Q&amp;A with the author.
</p>
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, April 15, 2-3 p.m. (hybrid event, in person and virtual).
</li>
<li>Location: 1201 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, 24th floor conference room.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
When <a href="https://wsha-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/sa8fn7jXQIW1YP-VVUdzoA">registering for the free event online</a>, indicate whether you will attend in person or virtually. Seating is limited. Copies of Minson's new book will be provided to in-person attendees. Thank you to the Washington State Hospital Association for extending this invitation to all WSMA members.
</p>
<p>WSMA members may also be interested in hearing more on this issue from Heather Sulejman, the co-founder along with Minson of Disagreeing Better, which offers trainings dedicated to translating behavioral science insights into practical conflict-management tools for professionals. Sulejman is a featured presenter at the <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/events/leadership_development_conference/wsma/events/ldc/leadership_development_conference.aspx?hkey=c7532c38-057a-4568-8a3c-078182469222">2026 WSMA Leadership Development Conference</a>, where she'll present a breakout session on the topic. Attendees of the session will also receive a free copy of Minson's book.
</p>
</div> | 4/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| action-alert-act-now-to-prevent-physician-shortages | Action Alert! Act Now to Prevent Physician Shortages | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 3/action-alert-act-now-to-prevent-physician-shortages | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/getty-images-8RHFeR8fbOI-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Concerns with Medicare and Medicaid " /></div>
<h5>Apr. 3, 2026</h5>
<h2>Action Alert! Act Now to Prevent Physician Shortages</h2>
<p><em>Urge Congress to support H.R. 7961</em>
</p>
<p>
The bipartisan <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7961">H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961)</a> would exempt physicians from the new $100,000 H-1B visa filing fee—helping ensure hospitals and physician practices can continue recruiting the international medical graduates who make up one in four U.S. physicians and serve many underserved communities. Without this fix, rising costs will worsen physician shortages, increase wait times for appointments, and limit access to care.
</p>
<p>
Take action: <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f130422%2fRespond">Urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 7961 and protect patient access to care</a>.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA has reached out directly to members of Washington's congressional delegation to request their support for this critical legislation.
</p>
</div> | 4/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsma-raises-concerns-with-cms-on-wiser-model-implementation | WSMA Raises Concerns with CMS on WISeR Model Implementation | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 3/wsma-raises-concerns-with-cms-on-wiser-model-implementation | <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="Concerns with Medicare and Medicaid " /></div>
<h5>Apr. 3, 2026</h5>
<h2>WSMA Raises Concerns with CMS on WISeR Model Implementation</h2>
<p><em>Share your experiences under the new Medicare prior authorization pilot</em>
</p>
<p>
The WSMA recently sent a follow-up <a href="https://takeaction.wsma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/wsma-follow-up-letter-to-cmmi-03262026.pdf">letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation</a> regarding physician and patient experiences under the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model.
</p>
<p>
In the letter, the WSMA shares real-world examples from Washington physicians highlighting delays in care, administrative challenges, and ongoing issues with prior authorization and claims processing. These include extended authorization timelines, difficulty accessing the vendor portal, and unresolved discrepancies that have left some practices unable to receive payment despite valid approvals.
</p>
<p>
The letter emphasizes that while we support efforts to improve program integrity, current implementation challenges are causing concerning disruptions in patient care and clinical workflows. We will continue to engage with CMS and advocate for improvements.
</p>
<h5>Follow WSMA guidance for Medicare prior authorizations</h5>
<p>
The WISeR model took effect Jan. 15 and subjects new prior authorization and prepayment review requirements to certain traditional Medicare services. Not sure if your practice is affected? <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/resources/practice-management/prior-authorization-navigator/wsma/resources/practice-management/prior-authorization-navigator.aspx?hkey=97bc759f-c0fe-45fe-aa78-55d6b3ea017f">WSMA's resource</a> outlines impacted services and provides step-by-step guidance on documentation, prior authorization, and claims submission to help your practice navigate these new requirements.
</p>
<h5>Are you subject to WISeR? Share your experience</h5>
<p>
We strongly encourage impacted practices to share their experiences with WISeR with us—including administrative challenges, access issues, and impacts on patient care (positive or negative). The WSMA is uniquely positioned to serve as a conduit between Washington physicians, members of Congress, Virtix, Noridian, CMS, and the media. Your experience under WISeR is critical to informing ongoing congressional oversight and future CMS decision-making. Please contact WSMA Director of Policy Jeb Shepard at <a href="mailto:jeb@wsma.org">jeb@wsma.org</a> to share your feedback.
</p>
</div> | 4/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsmas-latest-prior-authorization-reform-bill-signed-into-law | WSMA's Latest Prior Authorization Reform Bill Signed Into Law | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 3/wsmas-latest-prior-authorization-reform-bill-signed-into-law | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/SB-5395-bill-signing-photo-cropped.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 priority legislation updates" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 3, 2026</h5>
<h2>WSMA's Latest Prior Authorization Reform Bill Signed Into Law</h2>
<p><em>Legislation sets parameters on AI use and determination timelines</em>
</p>
<p>
Last week, WSMA priority legislation <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5395&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5395</a> was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The bill, developed in partnership by the WSMA, the Washington State Hospital Association, and Proliance Surgeons, is the third prior authorization reform bill the WSMA has helped advance through the legislative process since 2020, working to address a top priority issue for our state's physician community and patients.
</p>
<p>
Aligning with recent WSMA House of Delegates policy, SB 5395 prohibits insurance carriers from solely using artificial intelligence to deny prior authorizations, ensuring that a licensed health care practitioner makes such determinations. The bill also clarifies a prohibition in state law around retroactive denials of prior authorizations and requires insurance carriers to post policy updates on a single site.
</p>
<p>
SB 5395 builds on legislation from 2023 that requires integration of prior authorization processes into electronic health records to help streamline and expedite determinations. That law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027, dovetailing with a similar federal law that was put in place subsequent to WSMA's legislation. The federal law applies to prior authorizations for physical health care services, while the state law goes further and also applies to prescription drug authorizations.
</p>
<p>
In 2020, the WSMA and WSHA successfully advocated for a bill requiring tracking of insurance carriers' utilization of prior authorization, directing <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/ReportsToTheLegislature/Home/GetPDF?fileName=FINAL%202025%20Prior%20Authorization%20Report_43836481-1f6e-428a-9a65-00de64d2e8b2.pdf">annual reports</a> from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. As expected, the reports have found the vast majority of prior authorizations are approved, underscoring frustration that the process primarily serves to drive up costs for practices and cause delays for patients accessing care.
</p>
<p>
While we're proud of our work to help reform prior authorization processes and our state's standing as a leader on this issue, we know there's more to be done. We’ll continue to work at the state and federal levels to advance WSMA policies on prior authorization and mitigate its administrative and financial burdens.
</p>
</div> | 4/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| your-input-needed-during-opioid-prescribing-workshops | Your Input Needed During Opioid Prescribing Workshops | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 3/your-input-needed-during-opioid-prescribing-workshops | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/opioid_hydrocodone_bottle-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 priority legislation updates" /></div>
<h5>Apr. 3, 2026</h5>
<h2>Your Input Needed During Opioid Prescribing Workshops</h2>
<p><em>WSMA comments emphasize need to simplify and streamline prescribing rules</em>
</p>
<p>
Members of the physician community with expertise in pain management or insights into how Washington state's opioid prescribing requirements can be improved are strongly encouraged to attend the following upcoming virtual workshops hosted by the Washington Medical Commission to gather stakeholder input on potential changes to state opioid prescribing rules for allopathic physicians and physician assistants:
</p>
<p>
</p>
<ul>
<li>April 27, 1–3 p.m.</li>
<li>June 1, 1–3 p.m.</li>
<li>July 13, 1–3 p.m.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>
Register to attend the virtual workshops <strong><a href="https://wmc.wa.gov/policies-rules/rules-and-regulations-progress">here</a></strong>. Submit written comments <strong><a href="https://wmc.wa.gov/rule_making_2025/opioid-prescribing-general-provisions-mds-and-pas">here</a></strong>. For background, the commission has already convened several workshops, most recently on March 23. Materials from that meeting, including the latest draft proposal, public comments, and the rulemaking timeline, are <strong><a href="https://wmc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OPGPRulesWorkshopMaterials2.23.26Rev.%202.19.26.pdf">available here</a></strong>.
</p>
<h5>WSMA comments on changes to state opioid prescribing rules</h5>
<p>
The WSMA has submitted <a href="javascript://[Uploaded files/News and Publications/newsletters/2026/WSMA-cover-letter-for-suggested-opioid-rule-edits_02112026.pdf]">comprehensive comments</a> outlining the need to simplify and streamline Washington's complex opioid prescribing rules. The WSMA continues to emphasize the importance of maintaining patient access to appropriate pain care while ensuring regulatory clarity and flexibility for physicians.
</p>
<p>
If you plan on engaging with the stakeholder feedback opportunity, the WSMA would welcome your comments, as well. Contact the <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">WSMA policy department</a> with input.
</p>
</div> | 4/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsma-legislative-priorities-advancing-as-session-winds-down | WSMA Legislative Priorities Advancing as Session Winds Down | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March 6/wsma-legislative-priorities-advancing-as-session-winds-down | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/february/2026-Leg-Session-Graphic.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 Legislative Session Updates" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>WSMA Legislative Priorities Advancing as Session Winds Down</h2>
<p>The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn next Thursday, March 12, and the final days of session will be dominated by budget negotiations and deliberations over whether to establish a state income tax. If you missed last week's update on legislative budget proposals, you can read it <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2026/ceo-rounds-feb-24-2026-legislative-budget-proposals-released-what-they-mean-for-health-care">here</a>. Meanwhile, in addition to House Bill 2242, which will preserve access to preventive care and vaccines in our state, the WSMA has been successful in advancing—and defeating—a number of key legislative priorities this year.</p>
<p>Over the last week, votes have been taken in House and Senate committees to approve insurance reforms related to prior authorization (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5395&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">SB 5395</a>) and prompt payment and insurance carrier claw backs (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5845&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">SB 5845</a>). Legislation to extend the statutory deadlines of the Medicaid Access Program (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2385&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">HB 2385</a>) is also advancing.</p>
<p>Defending against bills we oppose is just as important as advancing bills in Olympia, and as of this writing all scope of practice bills the WSMA opposes are considered "dead" for the 2026 session. A Senate proposal to expand scope of practice for pharmacists did get serious consideration this year, and the WSMA will be working with proponents of the bill over the legislative interim to try to work toward an appropriate compromise on the issue. The prime sponsors of the legislation in both the House and the Senate are pharmacists and have signaled their intention to have a bill approved in the 2027 session.</p>
</div> | 3/27/2026 10:47:40 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| ceo-rounds-mar-27-2026-legal-victory-strengthens-critical-safeguard-for-physician-practice | CEO Rounds: Mar. 27, 2026 - Legal Victory Strengthens Critical Safeguard for Physician Practice | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2026/ceo-rounds-mar-27-2026-legal-victory-strengthens-critical-safeguard-for-physician-practice | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://wsma.org/images/Newsletters/ceo-rounds/ceo-rounds-article-graphic-2025-1290x850px.png" class="pull-right" alt="CEO Rounds with Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO graphic" />
</div>
<h5>
Mar. 27, 2026
</h5>
<h2>
Legal Victory Strengthens Critical Safeguard for Physician Practice
</h2>
<p>
Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO
</p>
<p>
Physicians often recognize the WSMA for its advocacy in Olympia. That work is essential, but it’s only part of the story. The WSMA advocates for physicians wherever decisions affecting the practice of medicine are made: with our congressional delegation, in the regulatory arena, with insurers, in the media, and before the courts.
</p>
<p>
It’s this last area—legal advocacy—that often goes undetected. Court cases can stretch on for years and their outcomes are rarely suited to easy summaries. Yet, this work is critically important, particularly in a state environment where our state’s legislative leadership has historically shown little support for tort reform.
</p>
<p>
Much of WSMA’s legal advocacy occurs through "friend of the court," or amicus curiae briefs. These briefs present a physician-centric perspective in cases that can shape the legal framework that governs medical practice. Often these briefs are aimed at preserving the limited but important protections physicians have under state statues and case law.
</p>
<p>
That work paid off again last week.
</p>
<p>
The Washington State Supreme Court affirmed a key jury instruction known as the “exercise of judgment†standard. This instruction reminds juries of a fundamental reality: medicine is not an exact science. It states that the physician is not liable for choosing among reasonable alternatives, provided that decision was made with appropriate care and skill within the standard of care.
</p>
<p>
This protection has been challenged before. In Fergen v. Sestero (2015), dissenting justices argued the instruction was "slanted." However, with support from the WSMA and partners, the court upheld it, and that reasoning later contributed to a unanimous decision in Paetsch v. Spokane Dermatology Clinic, PS.
</p>
<p>
More recently in Beard v. Everett Clinic, the issue resurfaced. The question before the court was whether the instruction requires only that a physician's decision fall within the standard of care, or whether the physician's decision-making process must also independently meet that standard.
</p>
<p>
Recognizing the stakes, the WSMA filed an amicus brief, joined by the AMA Litigation Center, the Washington State Hospital Association, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, and the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, with support from Physicians Insurance.
</p>
<p>
In a victory for the profession, this month the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision and upheld the use of the instruction, once again rejecting efforts to narrow or eliminate it. <strong>This outcome reinforces a critical safeguard for physicians: that reasonable clinical judgment, exercised within the standard of care, remains protected.</strong>
</p>
<p>
Behind the scenes, this work requires significant time, expertise, and collaboration. The WSMA relies on specialized outside counsel and strong partnerships to ensure the physician voice is effectively represented in the courts.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA is grateful to our legal team and the lawyers who brought this case to our attention, as well as our partners in the brief. We are equally grateful for our partnership and support from the AMA Litigation Center, the Washington State Hospital Association, Physicians Insurance, and, in this case, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians and the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. The engagement and support from these groups increased the impact of the amicus argument.
</p>
<p>
To learn more about how the WSMA decides to engage in amicus briefs or legal actions, visit the <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/advocacy/legal/wsma/advocacy/legal/legal.aspx">Legal page</a> in the advocacy section of our website.
</p>
</div> | 3/27/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| the-wsma-celebrates-match-day-the-best-is-yet-to-come | The WSMA Celebrates Match Day! The Best Is Yet to Come | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/the-wsma-celebrates-match-day-the-best-is-yet-to-come | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="WSMA celebrates 2026 Match Day" src="/images/Newsletters/latest-news/2026/march/match-day-2026-1200x628px.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 19, 2026</h5>
<h2>The WSMA Celebrates Match Day! The Best Is Yet to Come</h2>
<p>By Graham Short</p>
<p>
Friday, March 20 is Match Day! On Match Day, we celebrate the next step in a medical student's training to become a trusted healer and advocate for their patients. This day reminds us that working with patients is the reason physicians become physicians: to heal and save lives, a core theme of our <a href="[@]wsma/advocacy/your-care-is-at-our-core.aspx">Your Care Is at Our Core campaign</a> to restore the trust at the heart of the patient-physician relationship.
</p>
<p>
Celebrating Match Day at the WSMA is also celebrating two key demographics in our membership: our medical student members and our resident physician members. On Match Day, medical students learn which residency program they will join, marking the transition from student to physician-in-training. Students and physicians-in-training are intimately involved at the WSMA, informing policymaking (all members have a voice through our <a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/virtual-reference-committees.aspx">reference committees</a>), serving on our <a href="[@]wsma/about/who_we_are/board-of-trustees.aspx">board of trustees</a> and <a href="[@]wsma/about/who_we_are/house-of-delegates.aspx">House of Delegates</a> as a trustee, delegate, or alternate delegate, and informing the WSMA on its resources for students and residents through the <a href="[@]wsma/about/who_we_are/early-career-sections.aspx">WSMA Early Career Sections</a>. As a sign of our commitment to supporting students and residents on their journeys to becoming physicians, membership in the WSMA is <a href="[@]wsma/membership/join_renew/dues_categories.aspx">free</a>.</p>
<p>
Match Day is a reminder that medical students are a crucial part of not just the WSMA but of the health care ecosystem. They're tomorrow's physicians but today's eager learners and explorers—as such, they inform and teach the older generations of physicians, creating a two-way street of inspiration, information, and integration, making a stronger, united health care workforce.
</p>
<h3>Match Day memories</h3>
<p>
For this year's Match Day, the WSMA turned to its executive physician leadership—once and always former students themselves—to jog their memories of Match Days gone past. In them are lessons and insights for today's new cadre of physicians-in-training. Enjoy these memories and have a happy Match Day!
</p>
<p>
<strong>Bridget Bush, MD, WSMA president:</strong>
</p>
<p>
"I did the military match in December, so I already knew where I was going for the March Match Day. That being said, it was the first time since Katrina I got to see my classmates as we gathered in Houston. In fact, it and Graduation Day in May were the last days I saw most of them including my dear friend Adam who we lost to suicide in 2021. I have my 20th medical school reunion this April and it seems crazy to have been so long from that [Match] day!
</p>
<p>
"I loved seeing my classmate's faces as they opened their envelopes. The sense of pride at how awesomely we had all done (I was continuously impressed by the quality of doctors my classmates were becoming). I felt grateful to be a part of the class and the community, even though touched with a tinge of envy as I was only matched to an internship in the Navy (you must apply again for residencies during your internship in that branch).
</p>
<p>
"Some of it was bittersweet as I knew this was a milestone on our paths forward signifying that our medical school journey was nearly complete. I felt more acutely the loss of the time in New Orleans because of having to leave with Katrina. Fourth year was supposed to be the year I explored the city more, enjoyed more of its offerings in music and culture and food. Maybe that explains why I feel I have to go back there every few years."
</p>
<p>
<strong>John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA immediate past president:</strong>
</p>
<p>
"Medical school is a bit of a tasting menu where you have the opportunity to watch what happens in a variety of clinical settings and then absorb your feelings. Probably because of my experience of working in big technical research labs embedded in large academic systems, I found a natural affinity for the operating room—filled with equipment and very team-based—gravitating to anesthesiology as likely to be an enjoyable career choice.
</p>
<p>
"I was attracted to the way in which clinical anesthesiology practice had been refined and taught at Virginia Mason and so I applied for residency in Seattle. At that time, Virginia Mason was a center of excellence in regional anesthesia, and the training was almost exclusively based on physical anatomy. The attendings were enthusiastic, the little hospital was cheerful, and the teaching ur-text was by Andreas Vesalius! I thought it was all rather esoteric, and I was delighted when they accepted me into their program.
</p>
<p>
"I recall being very happy to have got into my chosen program, but I do think it was useful for me to be more than a little open, emotionally, to the possibility of only getting into one of my lower-ranked locations. I do, also, remember that my faculty advisor at UCSD was vaguely disappointed that I had chosen anesthesiology over 'real medicine' that he thought I would be 'good at,' so having to turn to an alternative cognitive specialty would have at least made him happy, and I liked him, so possibly I would have been happy too!</p>
<p>"I have no advice, other than the obvious—don't apply for anything that you predict will make you miserable!"
</p>
<p>
<strong>Bindu Nayak, MD, WSMA vice president:</strong>
</p>
<p>
"When your whole life seems to be building up to this moment that will decide the next step in your journey, emotions are high as you anticipate receiving that news that will change everything. This pivotal moment is something I hope you will treasure and look back on with joy. Whatever path you land on will take you to amazing places, life experiences and the reality of finally making it to your goal of being a physician. Enjoy every minute and know that wherever you go, you will do amazing things.
</p>
<p>
"Growing up in Louisiana, I put all my hopes and dreams into matching in internal medicine in Washington D.C. to follow my heart and my dreams. My fiancé (now husband) had already been in residency there for two years. Match day would determine if we would actually live in the same place. I loved D.C. and when I received the news that I did get my top choice, Georgetown University Medical Center, for my residency, I was overjoyed and it felt like so much more than just a residency falling into place. It felt like the first day of my dreams coming true."
</p>
<p>
<strong>John Scott, MD, WSMA secretary-treasurer:</strong>
</p>
<p>
"My advice to students is: be open and be present. There is this uncertainty that it's a little maddening, and even if you don't get top choices, there are so many excellent programs. I have friends who had an unexpected match day that in the long run worked out very well for them. Be there for your friends and classmates and their range of emotions that they will be feeling. Oh, and enjoy the last few months of 4th year because you’re going to work harder than you ever have for the next 3-7 years. Good luck!
</p>
<p>
"I matched into internal medicine at Stanford back in 1998. I was very happy because it was my #1 choice and I would be going back to where I grew up. I did the couple's match with my wife so we had applied to 20 different places all over the country, and we really had no idea where we were going to end up. She matched into the primary care pediatrics program at University of California, San Francisco, and made some amazing friends and got excellent training. I remember feeling relief that we were going to be in same city, and I was blown away by my classmates and the amazing places they were going to. And also, a little bit sad because I probably wouldn’t see some of these folks again or at least for many years."
</p>
<p>
Happy Match Day, graduates!
</p>
<p><em>Graham Short is WSMA's director of communications.</em></p>
</div> | 3/19/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| 2026-session-recap-key-policy-wins-for-physicians-patients | 2026 Session Recap: Key Policy Wins for Physicians, Patients | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March 16/2026-session-recap-key-policy-wins-for-physicians-patients | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/february/2026-Leg-Session-Graphic.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 Legislative Session Updates" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 16, 2026</h5>
<h2>2026 Session Recap: Key Policy Wins for Physicians, Patients</h2>
<p>
The 60-day, 2026 legislative session adjourned as scheduled on March 12. It was a successful session for the WSMA and physician community, with passage of key policy bills to ensure access to vaccines, reform prior authorization, and require insurance carriers to pay claims in a timely fashion. We also successfully defeated all bills we opposed this year.
</p>
<p>
Legislators worked against the backdrop of a state budget dynamic that continues to be challenging. Updates to the state budget were approved on the final day of session with a combination of cuts and new spending, the latter driven by rising state tort claims and increased utilization of state programs such as Medicaid.
</p>
<p>
In the budget space, the WSMA successfully advocated for priority funding items to maintain the state's Apple Health Expansion immigrant coverage program, promote insurance affordability though subsidies for plans on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, and fully fund Foundational Public Health Services. We also advocated against a proposed cut to Medicaid coverage for physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, which was restored in the final budget.
</p>
<p>
Budget negotiations in the coming years will likely continue to be challenging, particularly as cuts to federal health care funding from H.R. 1 are implemented. In spite of this, we will continue to advocate for Medicaid rate increases for professional service delivery and business and occupation tax reform for independent practices. While we were disappointed to not see more progress on those issues this year, given the state of the state's budget, we were also grateful that the final spending plan did not include cuts to Medicaid rates or tax increases on physician practices.
</p>
<h3 id="TheMillionairesTax">The Millionaires Tax</h3>
<p>
While the final state budget did not rely on tax increases on physician organizations, much of session was dominated by tax talk, specifically on <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=6346&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 6346</a>, which establishes a state income tax on individuals and spouses with annual income over $1 million.
</p>
<p>
Through the course of session, the WSMA advocated for dedicated revenue from the millionaires tax to support Medicaid rate increases and broad B&amp;O tax mitigation for physician groups and health care professionals - both intended to help promote health care access and affordability, as well as the viability of independent physician practice.
</p>
<p>
Negotiations over the bill culminated in a debate in the House of Representatives that ran more than 24 hours, with majority-party Democrats rejecting numerous amendments before taking a final vote on the bill.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA worked in collaboration with physician groups to develop one of the few amendments that was accepted. Our amendment eliminates the 0.5% B&amp;O tax surcharge on large medical groups that gross over $250 million annually one year earlier than directed under current law, saving physician groups an estimated $22 million and aligning with a similar policy in the bill for hospitals. Other noteworthy tax mitigation in the bill includes elimination of sales tax on certain services beginning in 2029, such as temporary staffing services, continuing education, custom IT projects, hygiene products, and diapers.
</p>
<p>
While Gov. Bob Ferguson has signaled that he will sign the millionaires tax into law, that won't be the last hurdle before it's implemented. Opponents of the law have signaled they will attempt to gather sufficient signatures to force ratification by voters in November. The bill will also face legal action challenging its constitutionality. If it withstands scrutiny, the tax will be assessed beginning in 2029.
</p>
<h3 id="WSMAPolicyPriorityWins">WSMA Policy Priority Wins</h3>
<p>
The millionaires tax grabbed most of the headlines from Olympia this year, but it was far from the only issue on the table. Between bills that were introduced in the 2026 session and those from 2025 that didn't pass and were automatically reintroduced, there were more than 3,500 bills eligible for consideration this session. The WSMA tracked and engaged on more than 600 of those bills, seeing wins on our following priority issues:
</p>
<p>
</p>
<ul>
<li>
Prior authorization reform | <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=5395&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 5395</a>
<ul>
<li>Continues recent efforts to modernize insurance carrier prior authorization processes, including prohibiting carriers from solely using AI to deny prior authorization and clarifying an existing prohibition on retroactive denials of prior authorization. This bill was developed by the WSMA in partnership with the Washington State Hospital Association and Proliance Surgeons.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Timely insurance payments | <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5845&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 5845</a>
<ul>
<li>Generally requires insurance carriers to pay "clean claims" within 30 days and reduces the time period in which reimbursement for claims can be retroactively clawed back by a carrier to 12 months.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Vaccine and preventive service access | <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2242&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 2242</a>
<ul>
<li>Modifies state policy to preserve access to preventive services, including vaccines, on a covered basis through health insurance plans and the state's Childhood Vaccine Program.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Medicaid Access Program date extension | <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2385&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 2385</a>
<ul>
<li>Maintains the Medicaid Access Program in statute until 2030 to allow the state to revisit seeking federal approval of the program in the future when feasible.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>
Other bills supported by the WSMA that were passed by the Legislature this year include <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=6025&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 6025</a> from the Washington Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to update the state's definition of fetal death, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1155&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 1155</a> to prohibit noncompetition agreements, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=6182&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 6182</a> to fund direct patient abortion clinical care services, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2225&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 2225</a> to regulate AI chatbots, and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2320&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 2320</a> to prohibit the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
</p>
<p>
As is always the case, scope of practice proposals consumed a substantial portion of our lobbying capacity this session. Along with the reintroduction of bills to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists and expand it for naturopaths, a new proposal was considered to permit pharmacists to independently diagnose and prescribe. Guided by our policy to analyze whether scope proposals entail adequate education and training to ensure patient safety, the WSMA successfully opposed these bills. At the direction of key legislators, we will be working with the pharmacists over the interim to try to find common ground on an appropriate update to their scope of practice.
</p>
<p>
Another topic of extensive discussion in recent months is the practice of international medical graduates. Upon negotiation with legislators and advocates for the IMG community, the WSMA was able to work to compromise on <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5185&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 5185</a>, which creates a pilot program under which IMGs who are currently working in structured settings in the state can work toward licensure as primary care physicians upon attainment of extensive, stipulated education and training.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA was successful in amending or defeating all bills we opposed this session. Those that died include <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2613&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">House Bill 2613</a> imposing restrictions on drug compounding, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5921&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 5921</a> legalizing psilocybin, and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5990&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">Senate Bill 5990</a> permitting advance practice providers to work as local health officers.
</p>
<p>
Legislative advocacy is a team sport. Through the course of session we partnered on these bills and others with the physician organizations that advocate in Olympia, as well as patient groups, the public health community, hospitals, community health centers, and other stakeholders. We’re grateful for these partnerships and the ongoing advocacy efforts of our physician members.
</p>
<h3 id="WhatsNextPromotingPreserving">What's Next : Promoting Patient Access and Preserving Independent Practice</h3>
<p>
At the top of the WSMA's legislative agenda this year were two ongoing priorities: mitigating recent B&amp;O tax increases on independent practices and across-the-board rate increases for Medicaid professional services. Both come with steep price tags and uphill climbs given the state's budget shortfall. But both are also essential for promoting the viability of independent practice, as well as health care affordability and access to care.
</p>
<p>
As we move into the legislative interim, we'll carry these issues and other priorities into conversations with legislative candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. We’ll also be discussing next steps around medical title transparency, as <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2261&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" target="_blank">the bill</a> the WSMA developed with physician specialty partners was considered but not passed in the 2026 session.
</p>
<p>
WAMPAC is the nonpartisan campaign arm of the WSMA which works to identify and support candidates for political office whose priorities align with the house of medicine. If you want to support the WSMA's advocacy efforts, consider joining the <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/advocacy/wampac/give_to_wampac/wsma/advocacy/wampac/give_to_wampac.aspx">WAMPAC Diamond Club</a>. Or keep an eye on WSMA communications as we'll be visiting communities across the state in the coming months, creating opportunities for physicians to connect with area candidates.
</p>
<p>
In the meantime, thank you for your support of WSMA's advocacy efforts. This year saw the launch of our Medical Student and Resident Advocacy Program, with more than 70 participants from across the state. We also held a sold-out WSMA Legislative Summit at the Capitol, and numerous physicians took time this session to meet with legislators and testify on bills. We're grateful to all of you who take time out of your busy schedules to advocate for your profession and your patients.
</p>
</div> | 3/16/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| 2026-legislative-session-update-week-of-mar-9 | 2026 Legislative Session Update: Week of Mar. 9 | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/2026-legislative-session-update-week-of-mar-9 | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/1171173151"><img src="/images/Newsletters/latest-news/2026/march/leg-update-video-3-9-26.png" alt="WSMA Legislative Update: Week of Mar. 9, 2026" /></a></div>
<h5>March 9, 2026</h5>
<h2>2026 Legislative Session Update: Week of Mar. 9 - As Session Winds Down, Bill to Preserve Access to Preventive Services and Vaccines Passes</h2>
<p>SMA Lobbyist Malorie Toman on a big win for WSMA's legislative priorities as we head into the last week of session, and a recap of our first medical student and resident advocacy day at the Capitol. <a href="https://vimeo.com/1171173151">Watch the video here</a>.</p>
<p>To get caught up on previous weekly updates from this session, these videos can also be accessed as audio podcasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsma-podcasts/id1702920307">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0PBMBLgHr6e0X3OaMjyJON?si=cece76253c2e4888&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=0029b8db89544fb4">Spotify</a>.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Post-Session Webinar, March 13 at noon</strong>
<br />
Join us March 13 for a post-session wrap-up webinar, where WSMA's government affairs team will review the outcomes of session. And as always, we want to hear your feedback and any concerns or issues you or your practice are facing, so we will hold time during the meeting for questions. <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BcBz1F42TMu-gikCAcPKlA#/registration">Register for the webinar</a>.
</p>
</div> | 3/9/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| doctors-making-a-difference-matthew-grierson-md | Doctors Making a Difference: Matthew Grierson, MD | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/doctors-making-a-difference-matthew-grierson-md | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="WSMA Reports Doctors Making a Difference: Matthew Grierson, MD graphic" src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2026/march-april/DMD-Website-Image-Grierson-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>Doctors Making a Difference: Matthew Grierson, MD</h2>
<p>For Matthew Grierson, MD, what began as a small journal club with fellow physicians and clinicians focused on dance medicine evolved into Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine, a free clinic for those in the performing arts with a deeply collaborative and integrated approach to care. His own history in dance and the challenges of finding specialized care helped shape his medical career and, in turn, this unique resource for the Seattle-area performing arts community. Dr. Grierson spoke with <em>WSMA Reports</em> about SeaPAM's history and mission.
</p>
<p>
<strong><em>WSMA Reports: </em>How did the SeaPAM free clinic get started?</strong>
</p>
<p>
<em>Dr. Grierson:</em> Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine grew out of a very organic community effort. As a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident, I sought out Dr. Nancy Kadel—an internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon and leader in dance medicine—after learning she had returned to Seattle. She was initially surprised that a physiatry resident wanted to work with dancers, but she welcomed me, and that rotation became foundational for my career.
</p>
<p>
Afterward, a small group of us—physicians, physical therapists, and other clinicians—began meeting monthly for a journal club in Nancy's living room. She cooked dinner, we invited colleagues from across Seattle, and we talked about dance medicine. It was genuinely magical. Attendance quickly grew to 20–30 people each month, and the conversations kept circling back to the same frustration: Dancers were profoundly underserved, and many of us worked in systems that actively made it difficult to care for them.
</p>
<p>
Even leaders in the field were blocked by institutional silos. Dancers with work-related injuries couldn't see the most qualified clinicians because they didn't fit neatly into "occupational medicine" categories. Several of us worked on and published a study where we found that very few dancers had access to competent medical teams. For many of us, this was devastating — this was exactly why we went into medicine.
</p>
<p>
Eventually, someone suggested we simply start a free clinic. That idea took on a life of its own. We formed a nonprofit, built a board, and began operating monthly clinics using donated space. Today, SeaPAM brings together physicians, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, Pilates instructors, dance educators, and primary care clinicians. It's the model of care we all wish existed in everyday practice—but payment structures don't allow.
</p>
<p>
Each clinic is deeply collaborative. One clinician may lead the visit, but everyone in the room participates. Trainees observe. Questions are encouraged—not just about the patient, but about clinical reasoning itself. Honestly, many of the most useful physical exam techniques I use today I learned from colleagues in this clinic.
</p>
<p>
Twelve years later, SeaPAM is still thriving. Many of us now serve as clinicians for major performing arts organizations in Seattle. We collaborate on research, trust one another professionally, and function as a true community. I only wish more cities had access to a model like this.
</p>
<p>
<strong>What made you want to get involved with providing care for those in the performing arts specifically?</strong>
</p>
<p>
I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in modern dance from the University of Utah and performed in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. As a dancer, I was injured constantly—but I never saw physicians as people I could turn to.
</p>
<p>
I remember breaking a rib during rehearsal and being told in the emergency department to "stop dancing." Technically, that advice wasn't wrong—but it was completely disconnected from my reality. Dance wasn't optional. It was my first major performance, and stopping wasn't feasible. What I needed was context, guidance, and a plan—not dismissal.
</p>
<p>
Those experiences stayed with me. Over time, I realized dancers and musicians often believe pain is inevitable, and they dont' realize there are clinicians who understand their bodies and goals. Dance, quite literally, gave me my life back during a very difficult period. That perspective has shaped my entire medical career.
</p>
<p>
While I love working with professional dancers, my philosophy applies broadly. One of my favorite patients was an 80-year-old man who wanted his knee pain treated so he could keep swing dancing all night. Movement matters—to everyone. That's why PM&amp;R is such a natural fit for this work.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Are there certain health needs that are unique to this community?</strong>
</p>
<p>
Absolutely. Dancers experience dramatic fluctuations in training volume, which places them at high risk for stress injuries. Learning to recognize early warning signs can mean the difference between brief modification and months away from dance.
</p>
<p>
Hypermobility is also common, requiring focused attention on proprioception, strength, and cross-training. Concussion awareness is another major gap. Unlike athletes in organized sports, dancers often return to performance immediately after head injuries. Education is improving, and organizations like the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health have been instrumental in pushing for concussion action plans.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Does this organization provide other services for performing artists besides medical care?</strong>
</p>
<p>
Yes. We host a monthly journal club, conduct and present research nationally and internationally, and help connect artists with other nonprofits—such as the Entertainment Community Fund—for financial support during difficult periods. Our impact is small in scale but meaningful.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Do you have any goals for the future of the clinic?</strong>
</p>
<p>
We'd love to reach more volunteers and more patients, particularly musicians. Expansion would require funding and administrative support, and we're careful not to grow in ways that dilute the clinic's core mission. Preserving the spirit of what makes SeaPAM special matters just as much as growth.
</p>
<p>
Anyone who wishes to learn more about our group can sign up for our email announcements at <a href="https://www.seapam.com">www.seapam.com</a>.
</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the March/April 2026 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 3/6/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| legislature-passes-wsma-priority-legislation-to-preserve-access-to-preventive-services-and-vaccines | Legislature Passes WSMA Priority Legislation to Preserve Access to Preventive Services and Vaccines | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March 6/legislature-passes-wsma-priority-legislation-to-preserve-access-to-preventive-services-and-vaccines | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/march/getty-images-c2PPCDPMB-A-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 Legislative Session Updates" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>Legislature Passes WSMA Priority Legislation to Preserve Access to Preventive Services and Vaccines</h2>
<p><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2242&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2242</a>, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D - Lakewood), which preserves access on a covered basis to preventive services, including vaccines, was passed by the Legislature last week with bipartisan support. The legislation, which was requested jointly by Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, now heads to the governor's desk, where it is presumed to be signed into law in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>This WSMA priority legislation allows the Washington State Department of Health to make recommendations on vaccines in consultation with expert organizations, including professional medical organizations and local health organizations. The law also preserves Washingtonians' access to preventive services without cost-sharing for residents enrolled in commercial health plans who choose to utilize these services.</p>
<p>As leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shaken up and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices continue to shift away from evidence-based practices, this vital legislation will ensure Washingtonians can continue to access important preventive health services, including vaccines, on a covered basis.</p>
</div> | 3/6/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| member-spotlight-elizabeth-westling-md | Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Westling, MD | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/member-spotlight-elizabeth-westling-md | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2026/march-april/Member-Spotlight-Website-Image-Westling-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA Reports Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Westling, MD" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Westling, MD</h2>
<p>
<strong>Works at:</strong> Providence-Washington State University Internal Medicine Center, Everett.
</p>
<p>
<strong>How long in practice:</strong> Five years.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Specialty:</strong> Internal medicine.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Why WSMA:</strong> My first introduction to the WSMA was in residency when I attended the WSMA Legislative Summit. Up to that point, I hadn't realized how much impact physician organizations could have on local legislation and I was inspired by the respect that legislators have for the WSMA. I aspire to have a positive impact on the health of the community where I practice beyond the provision of direct clinical care and my involvement with the WSMA has provided an avenue to support tangible change.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Inspired by:</strong> I love the relationships that medicine allows me to build with my colleagues and patients. It is motivating to feel that we are all part of a bigger team working toward the great shared goal of improved health and quality of life for those we care for. I learn something new from my patients or colleagues every day, and getting to know my patients provides insight into many other ways of living that I would never know about if I worked in another field.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Why WSMA's Your Care Is at Our Core campaign matters:</strong> My role as a healer and ally to my patients is one of the most important parts of my identity as a physician. Our medical system is complicated and hard for patients to navigate and, whether it is intended or not, many people experience trauma during their health care journey. To me, embracing the role of healer means taking patients' experiences seriously, walking alongside them on what can be a difficult journey, and helping them recover from medical trauma and rebuild their trust in the medical system. This feels particularly salient right now as public trust in medicine is being undermined. I hope that my patients feel that I am a safe source of information and reassurance.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Best advice:</strong> The purpose of the first visit is to earn the second visit.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Spare time:</strong> Hanging out with my husband, 2-year-old son, and two cats. We love going for walks on the Everett waterfront and checking out the Imagine Children's Museum.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Hobbies:</strong> Cooking for friends and family, crocheting, and gardening. My son loves tomatoes and we're looking forward to growing cherry tomatoes this summer. We just finished sowing shallot seeds to get a head start on the growing season.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Recommended reading:</strong> "Prophet Song" by Paul Lynch is a book that I read over a year ago and still think about all the time. I highly recommend it but be prepared to be emotionally devastated. For a lighter read, I got "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton for Christmas and read it over one weekend! It's a historical mystery with great pacing.
</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the March/April 2026 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 3/6/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |