Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Bree Collaborative Events, Information

The Bree Collaborative, established by the state legislature in 2011 to bring together public and private stakeholders to identify improvements to health care quality, outcomes, and affordability, is spotlighting two of its recommendations this month. On Wednesday, Dec. 7, at noon, the Collaborative will highlight its recommendation on opioid prescribing in older adults. During the…

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WAFP, WSMA, WCAAP Release Statement on Preventive Measures to Combat Surge in RSV Cases

WAFP, along the with the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, released a joint statement urging the public to take precautions as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spike throughout Washington. Hospital emergency departments are frequently at capacity, and the problem is even worse at pediatric hospitals. The statement…

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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…

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Washington 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…

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Dr. 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…

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MCO 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…

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Inslee 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…

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AAFP 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…

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