News
Nominations Open for WAFP Family Medicine Educator of the Year
While the Oxford Dictionary defines an educator as “a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher,” we know an educator is so much more! True educators ignite passions for learning, offer endless encouragement, challenge assumptions, and construct an environment in which their students thrive. Do you know a Family Medicine Educator who has impacted their…
Read MoreWashington Medical Commission Recruiting for Vacancies
The Washington Medical Commission, which establishes, monitors, and enforces qualifications for licensure, consistent standards of practice, and continuing competency, will have openings for several commissioners beginning July 1, 2023: WMC is also recruiting for two public members who are not physicians. Commission members are appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee. The commission usually meets eight times…
Read MoreMedication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Learning Collaborative Set to Begin in December
Comagine Health, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) are recruiting up to eight clinical settings to participate in the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Learning Collaborative (LC). The MOUD LC is open to clinical sites who have patients with opioid use disorder and would like to…
Read MoreDr. Katina Rue Named President of State Medical Association
Katina Rue, DO, FAAFP, was installed as the president of the Washington State Medical Association at its annual meeting in Spokane this weekend. Rue, director of the Trios family medicine residency program in Kennewick, currently serves as one of the WAFP’s alternate delegates to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. In taking the helm of the…
Read MoreMCO Incentives for Well Visits Through 2022
The MCOs working with the Department of Health have compiled a list of the rewards parents can earn so that clinics can use it when reminding parents that their child is due or overdue for a full check-up. Some clinics find that patients are more willing to schedule an appointment knowing that it is included in…
Read MoreInslee to Rescind COVID-Related Proclamations
Effective Oct. 27, Gov. Jay Inslee will rescind 12 proclamations related to COVID-19, affecting CME requirements and those holding a retired active MD license. Upon the rescission, CME requirements will resume. Allopathic physicians are required to attest to CME every four years, though one of Inslee’s proclamations put this requirement on hold. The Washington Medical…
Read MoreAAFP Federal Advocacy Updates: August 2022
The AAFP’s federal advocacy report for this month is now available. This month’s update focuses on AAFP’s work on potential cuts to Medicare physician payments, health care in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, prior authorization legislation, the REDI Act, and COVID-19 relief funding. As AAFP distributes the advocacy updates, they will be posted on…
Read MoreAAFP Adds Resources on Monkeypox
The AAFP has launched a webpage with resources for family physicians on the prevention, recognition, and treatment of monkeypox. Additionally, there will be a live event on monkeypox at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, with AAFP president Sterling Ransone, MD, FAAFP; AAFP senior VP for research, science, and health of the public Julie Wood,…
Read MoreDOH Updates Power of Providers (POP) Resources
The Washington State Department of Health has new resources on its Power of Providers (POP) webpage, which aims to connect patients to COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition to frequently updated links on research, there are numerous links for physicians and other members of the care team to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and in-depth clinical information on…
Read MoreDOH Urges Physicians to Increase Blood Lead Level Testing in Children
The Washington State Department of Health is urging family physicians and pediatricians to increase their testing on blood lead levels (BLL) in children. While DOH notes testing has increased over the past decade, Washington is still well behind the nation in testing rates (4.2 percent vs. a 17.6 percent national average). The emphasis comes in…
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