News

With children from 6 months old to 5 years old now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Health has released a list of resources to help speed vaccination of the estimated 380,000 Washington children now eligible. Vaccine deliveries began this week, with the DOH continuing to place orders with the…

The University of Washington’s Perinatal Psychiatry Consultation Line is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Physicians can now call in with questions related to co-morbid substance use and mental health. Dial 877-725-4666 or email ppcl@uw.edu to connect. (UW also has a general-use psychiatric consultation line, which is available 24-7 at 877-WA-PSYCH [877-927-7924].) UW…

The Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday that it had authorized an inquiry into the six largest pharmacy benefit managers: CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, OptumRx, Humana, Prime Therapeutics, and MedImpact Healthcare Systems. The agency is requiring each of the companies to provide information and records regarding their business practices. Among the areas of inquiry are the…

From the Washington State Department of Health: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently updated adult vaccine recommendations related to hepatitis B vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and Shingrix. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all adults aged 19-59 years regardless of risk factors, and anyone 60 years or older with risk factors. Hepatitis B vaccine…

WAFP held its 65th annual House of Delegates (HOD) on Saturday, giving membership a chance to weigh in on policy resolutions and elect leadership for the coming year. Nine resolutions were adopted on a range of topics, from WAFP’s nominating process to building electrification to gender-affirming care. You can see the resolutions, as adopted by…

From a House of Delegates resolution in 2018 to the governor’s desk, Washington now joins the growing number of states choosing to elevate primary care. On Thursday morning, Gov. Jay Inslee signed SB 5589, which will add primary care spending measurement and reporting to the activities of the Health Care Cost Transparency Board. The bill…

Washington state’s Chief Science Officer indicated that while COVID-19 therapeutics have been in short supply in the past, they are available now. COVID-19 therapeutics including monoclonal antibodies Sotrovimab, Bebtelovimab and Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld) and antiviral medications Molnupiravir and Paxlovid are available in Washington state through allocations from the federal government. The medications are available by prescription…