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This is a short legislative session and events are moving fast.
We need your voice now!
Reps. Nicole Macri (D-43) and Marcus Riccelli (D-3) have introduced House Bill 2476, and Sens. Emily Randall (D-26) and June Robinson (D-38) have introduced Senate Bill 6309, legislation supported by the Washington State Medical Association and Northwest Washington Medical Society to increase reimbursement rates to Medicare levels. The bills would establish a covered lives assessment and allow the state to draw down federal funds and increase rates across the board.
If you and your patients have been affected by the state's chronically low Medicaid reimbursement rates, please take a few minutes right now to send a message to your legislators.
Tell lawmakers to support
While bills with budget impacts have a longer timeline than budget-neutral bills, we still only have about a month to move these bills forward.
This is an urgent issue in all parts of our state and the WSMA is putting considerable resources and effort into supporting these bills' passage. Nearly 60 health and physician groups have already signed on in support of HB 2476 and SB 6309, and they are also working directly with legislators.
To ensure that lawmakers have the physician's and patient perspectives in mind, here are some resources to inform you, legislators, and the public.
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Take Action webpage explains the reimbursement issue and the impact on patients, and highlights stories from physicians who are concerned about access to care.
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Fact Sheet can be downloaded from the site and shared with anyone.
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Medicaid Patient Survey gives insight into the patient experience. When they can't get the care they need, they're managing more pain, delayed diagnosis, and additional ED visits.
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