| Rep._Nicole_Macri_Named_2025_WSMA_Legislator_of_the_Year | Rep. Nicole Macri Named 2025 WSMA Legislator of the Year | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2025/June_20/Rep._Nicole_Macri_Named_2025_WSMA_Legislator_of_the_Year | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>June 20, 2025</h5>
<h2>Rep. Nicole Macri Named 2025 WSMA Legislator of the Year</h2>
<p>Each year, the WSMA honors a legislator whose influence and leadership help to make Washington one of the best states to practice medicine and receive care. This year, we are thrilled to award the 2025 Legislator of the Year Award to Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Capitol Hill).</p>
<p>Rep. Macri was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and has been a legislative leader in promoting access to care, serving on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee.</p>
<p>Over the past two legislative sessions, Rep. Macri was the prime sponsor of WSMA priority legislation House Bill 1392 creating the Medicaid Access Program. She shepherded the bill through the legislative process during a challenging budget year, resulting in its passage and delivery to the governor’s desk. Her thoughtful facilitation of negotiation meetings, generous accessibility throughout the legislative session, and focused efforts to ensure the bill came up for a vote at crucial junctures were all instrumental to the passage of this legislation. We appreciate Rep. Macri’s leadership and collaboration on this important effort.</p>
<p>Rep. Macri also worked with the WSMA to amend another of her bills, House Bill 1123. This amendment clarified that the reimbursement cap for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for state employee health plans would not apply to professional services, ensuring independent physician groups operating in hospital settings would not be adversely impacted by limiting reimbursement. We are grateful for Rep. Macri’s willingness to hear our concerns and work with us on a solution.</p>
<p>More broadly, the WSMA and physician community are grateful for Rep. Macri’s ongoing work to support access to behavioral health services, address the opioid epidemic, protect reproductive health care services, and support public health. These are crucial and often contentious areas of policy where Washington state’s residents all benefit from her leadership.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The WSMA thanks Rep. Macri for her work on the Medicaid Access Program and for her ongoing partnership to ensure its implementation as well as her legislative leadership. Congratulations on being named our 2025 Legislator of the Year! </p>
</div> | 6/17/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| antibiotic-stewardship-resources-for-outpatient-clinics | Antibiotic Stewardship Resources for Outpatient Clinics | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/June-13/antibiotic-stewardship-resources-for-outpatient-clinics | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>June 13, 2025</h5>
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<h2>Antibiotic Stewardship Resources for Outpatient Clinics </h2>
<p>The antimicrobial stewardship team at the Washington State Department of Health has new resources to share with the physician community. In addition to enhancing safety for patients, implementation of antibiotic stewardship principles can provide further benefits by improving scores for specific Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures and fulfilling select Merit-based Incentive Payment System measures.</p>
<p><strong>Why antibiotic stewardship is critical for patient care</strong> </p>
<p>Optimizing the use of antibiotics through stewardship is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance. Side effects can include rash, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and yeast infections, but also more serious conditions like C. difficile infection and severe allergic reactions. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria often require extended hospital stays, additional visits to physicians and health care professionals, and treatments that may be more costly and potentially more toxic.</p>
<p><strong>Resources for medical groups and outpatient practices</strong> </p>
<p>Be sure you and your teams are up to speed on these updated resources.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.train.org/cdctrain/training_plan/3697">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention training on antibiotic stewardship</a>, completion of which fulfills MIPs improvement activities PSPA_23 and PSPA_24. </li>
<li>University of Washington Centers for Stewardship in Medicine's <a href="https://www.uwcsim.org/sites/default/files/A3972.TASP%20booklet%20v7.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Pacific Northwest Antibiotic Guide</a>.</li>
<li>An <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/420-204-ProviderCommitmentToStewardshipPoster.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">educational poster for display in the patient waiting area</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/communication-resources/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/print-materials.html">Educational handouts for patients</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Be sure to visit the Department of Health's dedicated <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/healthcare-professions-and-facilities/healthcare-associated-infections/antimicrobial-resistance-and-antimicrobial-stewardship/antibiotic-stewardship/outpatient-clinics">antibiotic stewardship webpages for outpatient clinics</a> for more resources.</p>
</div> | 6/12/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| deadlines-and-delegate-opportunities-for-the-2025-annual-meeting-of-the-wsma-house-of-delegates | Deadlines and Delegate Opportunities for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2025/June-13/deadlines-and-delegate-opportunities-for-the-2025-annual-meeting-of-the-wsma-house-of-delegates | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2025/june/se-01-venticinque-240928-0460-2024-annual-meeting-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Annual Meeting session" /></div>
<h5>June 13, 2025</h5>
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<h2>Deadlines and Delegate Opportunities for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates </h2>
<p>Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates at The Westin Bellevue, Sept. 20-21. The WSMA Annual Meeting is the association's yearly policymaking event, where the voting members of the association gather to debate and determine policy, elect officers, enjoy educational offerings, and connect in person. The meeting isn't just for delegates; all are welcome to attend and take advantage of the educational offerings, social events, and networking opportunities. It's also a great way to witness firsthand how policy is made at the WSMA.</p>
<h3><strong>What you need to know in advance of the WSMA Annual Meeting </strong></h3>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>How to serve as a delegate</strong> <br />
If you would like to serve as a delegate at the 2025 Annual Meeting, please contact your local county society or state specialty society. If you are unsure who to contact, email WSMA staff at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. Be sure to review the <a href="[@]wsma/about_us/who_we_are/house-of-delegates/wsma/about/who_we_are/house-of-delegates.aspx?hkey=8c843bfe-b865-4199-9765-4ac24e2de108">duties and expectations of service as a delegate</a>.</p>
<p><strong>How to propose policy<br />
</strong>As a WSMA member, you can help guide the direction of the association and raise awareness of issues of importance to the practice of medicine in Washington by authoring a resolution: a proposal asking the WSMA to take a position or act on an issue. Resolutions must be sponsored by at least two WSMA delegates. If you are interested in authoring a resolution but are not a delegate or board member, the WSMA will work with you to develop your resolution idea and find a sponsor. Contact us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> for assistance. Visit the <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMTU3ODYxMyZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA4MzYwJmxpPTEwOTc4Mjk2NA/index.html">How to Write a Resolution page</a> for everything you need to know about proposing policy at the WSMA Annual Meeting.</p>
<p><strong>How to review, discuss, and inform proposed policy in advance of the meeting</strong><br />
To help hone your resolution idea or to engage with other highly engaged and policy-focused WSMA members, including delegates, join our secure Virtual Reference Committees and Policy Community. Accessible using email, website, or mobile app, you may post and share resources, connect via private chat, see member profiles, and receive updates tailored to your specifications. <a href="https://wsma.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMTU3ODYxMyZwPTEmdT0xMDc4MTA4MzYwJmxpPTEwOTc4Mjk2NQ/index.html">Request to join the WSMA Virtual Reference Committees and Policy Community</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Important meeting deadlines</strong> </p>
<ul>
<li>Aug. 9: Reports and resolutions due for inclusion in delegate handbook.</li>
<li>Aug. 20: Final deadline for reports and resolutions. Resolutions received after this date must have the consent of two-thirds of the House at the opening session to be considered.</li>
<li>Aug. 28: Deadline to make room reservations at The Westin Bellevue.</li>
<li>Aug. 29: Delegate handbook will be available for download.</li>
<li>Sept. 20-21: 2025 WSMA Annual Meeting.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Thank you to our corporate partners</strong> </p>
<p>Thank you to our corporate partners for their generous support: Physicians Insurance, Northern Capital Management, Gohagan &amp; Company, and Resolve.</p>
</div> | 6/12/2025 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |