News
DOH Lowers Actionable Blood Lead Level in Kids
From the Washington State Department of Health: Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is lowering the blood lead action level to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to be more protective of children and prevent further exposure. Blood lead tests are the only way to know if a child has been exposed. Providers play an important…
Read MoreRegistration Open for the 2026 House of Delegates, CME
We hope you’ll join us in Wenatchee on May 8 and 9 for the 2026 WAFP House of Delegates (HOD). Registration is now open! You’ll also have the opportunity to register for continuing educational sessions that serve as shoulder programming for the HOD: dermoscopy basics in late morning on May 8 and the KSA on…
Read MoreJanuary Vax Corner
By Maria Huang, MD, FAAP, WCAAP Vaccine Committee Co-Chair Happy New Year 2026! Immunization counseling conversations are now compensated even when vaccines aren’t administered! As of Jan 1, 2026, three new time-based CPT codes take effect. Documentation Requirements:Specify vaccines counseled on, conversation details, reasons for declination, and underimmunization status. Include total time, clarifying it applies…
Read MoreUpdated: WAFP Foundation Student & Resident Retreat Travel Advisory
Getting to the annual WAFP Foundation Student & Resident Retreat will be a bit easier: WSDOT has announced the opening of eastbound US-2 over Stevens Pass. So while it will be possible for Retreat attendees from Western Washington to reach Leavenworth via US-2, WSDOT is urging travelers to use other passes over the Cascades. US-2…
Read MoreAAFP Updates from the Other Washington
AAFP staff in Washington, DC, is constantly working to enhance family medicine in the halls of Congress and with whomever is occupying the White House. Though it may not always be visible, AAFP staff maintains productive relationships with Congress and key federal agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Each month, the…
Read MoreVaccines Do Not Cause Autism
Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control updated their websites to question the claim that vaccines do not cause autism. The AAFP noted, and the WAFP shares, its concerns with these changes. AAFP has been vocal about efforts by the administration to push out misinformation to the public, especially when it’s not rooted in…
Read MoreAAFP Website Users Will Need to Reset Their Passwords
If you have an account at aafp.org — and all AAFP and WAFP members do — you will be required to reset your password on or after Monday, Dec. 8. That date coincides with the completion of maintenance and security updates for AAFP’s website, which will be offline Dec. 5 through Dec. 7. Once the…
Read MoreCMS Releases 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Family physicians will benefit from the final rules for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Quality Payment Program, which were recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Among the highlights: “The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is pleased by several provisions in the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule that strengthen…
Read MoreBree Collaborative Seeks Comment on Glycemic Control and Anemia Draft Guidelines
From the Bree Collaborative: Your feedback is requested on the Bree Collaborative’s draft Surgical Optimization: Glycemic Control and Anemia Report and Guidelines. Our workgroup will review all comments anonymously before submitting a final set of guidelines for review and approval by the Bree Collaborative. Please read the draft materials then complete the public comment form; we estimate that this form will take…
Read MoreVax Corner: Vaccine Resources
By Maria Huang, MD, FAAP, co-chair, Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP) Vaccine Committee With recent changes from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding Covid vaccinations and limiting MMRV use to children 4 years old, what protections do providers have?
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