Advocacy - Washington State Radiological Society

2019 Day in Olympia
WSRS members visit legislators & express their concerns on healthcare legislation

On January 23, 2019, members of WSRS from around the state traveled to Olympia to advocate for policy that assures healthcare access and safety for members of the public. The delegation included residents and fellows from the radiology and radiation oncology training programs at the University of Washington, along with residents from Virginia Mason. While the majority of the participants were from the Seattle area, we also had participation by radiologists from Tacoma, Gig Harbor.

The participants met with their state representatives and senators and had a group meeting with WSMA’s lead lobbyists Katie Kolan and Sean Graham to hear an overview of how health care fared during session and about the new legislation impacting physicians and the practice of medicine in Washington state. If you would like to participate in the WSRS 2020 Legislative Day, please contact WSRS Executive Director at admin@wsrs.org for more information on how to sign up and be involved.

Balance Billing: HB 1065 / SB 5031

This is a hot-button issue for the general public and legislators. When a patient visits an in-network hospital, often for an emergency, they may receive services for physicians that work at the hospital, but are not covered by the same network. These physicians charge the patient separately, and the cost is not met by the patient’s insurance. The bill originated with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and aims to remove patients from the situation, leaving providers and insurance companies to come to terms on reimbursement. The bill as written will create an arbitration process for providers and healthcare networks. With proposed amendments, the bill may help providers and networks avoid unnecessary costs and come to an agreement on reimbursement. Legislators were receptive to our comments on this bill, and amendments that would help arbitrators reach an equitable compromise have been proposed in the Senate.

Wrongful Death HB 1135 / SB 5163

Background: In brief this legislation resulted from the 2015 “Ride the Ducks” accident on Aurora Bridge that killed 4 people and injured many more. There were issues with obtaining reasonable compensation for those who died or were injured in the accident. The bill as written may have unintended consequences that impact physician malpractice in our state. We approached legislators with the points listed below:

WSRS opposes the joint severable liability provisions and recommended that it be removed. The language would hold a party responsible for making a plaintiff economically whole for damages even if the party is found only partially liable for the wrongful death. This bill is an incentive for predatory litigation, expands liability and inappropriately increased damages. WSRS opposes the joint severable liability provisions in HB 1135/ SB 5163 and recommend it be removed.

The bill is opposed by many including schools and local governments amongst others, but has strong support from attorney groups which must be countered. There is no indication at this time that the bill will be amended.

The WSRS Executive Committee, and our lobbyist Jim Hedrick will continue our efforts to track relevant legislation that affects patient care and Radiologists.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ruben Krishnananthan, MD, MPH

President, Washington State Radiological Society

2018 Day in Olympia

WSRS members visit legislators & express their concerns on healthcare legislation

On February 1, 2018, members of WSRS from around the state traveled to Olympia to advocate for policy that assures healthcare access and safety for members of the public. The delegation included residents and fellows from the radiology and radiation oncology training programs at the University of Washington, along with residents from Virginia Mason and Madigan Army Medical Center. While the majority of the participants were from the Seattle area, we also had participation by radiologists from Tacoma, Gig Harbor and as far away as Spokane and Prosser. This year for the first time two members of the Radiology Business Managers Association (RBMA) Washington Chapter participated alongside the physicians.

The participants met with their state representatives and senators and had a group meeting with Jason McGill from the governor’s healthcare policy team. Among the topics of discussion with policymakers were bills relating to notification of breast density, insurance coverage for tomosynthesis (3D mammography, and the issue of narrow insurance networks and their affect on patients.

Members of the WSRS delegation stopped for a quick photo in the state capitol rotunda between visits to legislators. This year the group included both diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists and trainees.

Radiologists from around the state used the lunch hour to develop strategies for effective advocacy.

Dr. Jeff Robinson, of the UW Medical School faculty (left) and Dr. Joshua Rosenbaum, a radiology resident at the UW, (center), provided important perspectives to lawmakers on bills of interest to radiologists being considered in the legislature this session.

Shawn Call of the Virginia Mason residency program (center right), effectively utilized visual aids to help him explain imaging technology advances to a legislative aid.

Congressman Derek Kilmer visits with Tacoma radiologists and learns their concerns

On Friday, July 7, 2017, Congressman Derek Kilmer, along with a staff member from his district office, toured the Carol Milgard Breast Center in Tacoma. Dr. Wei-Shin Wang provided a tour of the site and explained the advantages of new technologies such as tomosynthesis breast imaging. Representative Kilmer then spent time talking with radiologists from CMBC and other WSRS members from the Pierce County area. The meeting explored the many economic and policy challenges of delivering high quality healthcare.

WSRS coordinated the meeting at the request of Rep. Kilmer, who had wanted to meet with physicians who practice in the major healthcare systems in his district. WSRS Government Affairs Chair Dr. Phil Lund, along with his colleague Dr. Doug Seiler, were instrumental in helping set up the meeting. Thank you to the staff and radiologists at Carol Milgard Breast Center for their warm hospitality.

If your practice would like to invite a congressional representative or a state legislator for a visit, please contact the WSRS.

Dr Wang welcomes Rep Kilmer and WSRS members to CMBC

Dr Wang explains tomo to Rep Kilmer & staffer

Rep Kilmer - far left - listens to concerns of radiologists during visit to CMBC — Rep Kilmer – far left – listens to concerns of radiologists during visit to CMBC

Rep Derek Kilmer meets radiologists at CMBC

Congressman Kilmer - center - discusses healthcare policy challenges with radiologists while touring CMBC — Congressman Kilmer – center – discusses healthcare policy challenges with radiologists while touring CMBC

Day of Advocacy in Washington DC, May 24, 2017

A large delegation of WSRS delegation, including radiologists from the Seattle area, Spokane and Vancouver, WA, visited the offices of members of Congress and Washington State’s senators on Wednesday, May 24 during the ACR Annual Meeting.

Attendees were fully prepared by the ACR Government Relations team for their meetings and they did an excellent job of expressing our top legislative priorities including:

The importance of coverage by Medicare for CT colonography
Requesting full funding for the NIH for 2018 and beyond
Advocating for preservation of patient access to early detection cancer screens

For more information on the topics WSRS leaders and their colleagues from around the country discussed with lawmakers, visit the links below, prepared by the ACR’s Government Relations team.

group at capitol in DC 5-24-17 — Part of the group of WSRS members and members-in-training in DC for the annual ACR Day of Advocacy on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 5-24 17, paused between appointments at Congressional offices for a photo with the Capitol Dome in the background. Left to right: Marie Lee, MD; Phil Smith, MD; Jeff Robinson, MD; Peter Eby, MD; Eric Stern, MD; Pooja Voria, MD (WSRS President); Keegan Hovis, MD; Jonathan Medverd, MD; Berthina Coleman, MD; Ed Kim, MD; and Aaron Daub, MD.

prepping for hill day 2017 — Before heading out to meet with Washington State’s Congressional delegation, WSRS members and members-in-training paused for a brief prep session. This group demonstrates the strength of WSRS in bringing together the combined insights of colleagues from a variety of practice settings. On the left side of the table are Peter Eby, MD; Marie Lee, MD and two of their residents, Phil Smith, MD and Emily Johnson, MD, all from Virginia Mason Medical Center. On the right side of the table are four UW affiliated WSRS members: Jeff Robinson, MD; resident Berthina Coleman, MD; Jonathan Medverd, MD; and (back to camera) Ed Kim, a radiation oncologist from SCCA/UW.

7th District Rads outside Jayapal office — While waiting to meet with the legislative director of their Congressional representative, Pramila Jayapal, radiologists and radiation oncologists from Washington State’s 7th District pause for a brief photo. Left to right, Ed Kim, MD; Tom Anderson, MD, PhD; Keegan Hovis, MD; Phil Smith, MD; Aaron Daub, MD; Pooja Voria, MD, MBA, (WSRS president); Marie Lee, MD; Peter Eby, MD.

Jayapal office visit 5-24-17 — WSRS members from Washington State’s 7th Congressional District visited with freshman Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s Legislative Director Ven Neralla (far right) regarding legislative priorities including Medicare coverage for CT colonography. WSRS has invited the Congresswoman to visit a radiology practice when she is back in Seattle later this year to help familiarize her with the work of radiologists and their role in healthcare.

Kilmer – Lund – Morgan 5-24-17 in DC — Congressman Derek Kilmer, left, Dr. Phil Lund (center) and Dr. Gail Morgan had a productive conversation about the importance of access to preventive screenings during the day of advocacy on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 5-24-17.

Young Radiologists on Capitol Hill — While meeting with Congressman Derek Kilmer, three WSRS members from around the state enjoyed the opportunity to share what they love about their profession. Left to right: Som Prabhu, MD of Spokane; Baiju Shah, MD of Tacoma and Emily Johnson, MD of Seattle.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers with WSRS members — A delegation of WSRS members, led by Spokane radiologist Som Prabhu, MD (third from right), visited with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (center) during their day on Capitol Hill in DC on 5-24-17.

Denny Heck with WSRS members — Two WSRS members who live in the 10th Congressional District visited with their Congressman, Denny Heck during the ACR’s advocacy day in DC on 5-24-17. WSRS board member Kathy Choi-Chinn, MD (center), and her colleague Baiju Shah, MD (second from right) brought along colleagues Dr. Som Prabhu, of Seattle, (far left) and Dr. Emily Johnson, of Seattle, (far right).

WSRS Day of Advocacy in Olympia, 2017

WSRS group at state capitol 1-26-17 — WSRS group at state capitol

Dr Medverd provides pre-lobbying briefing on issues

WSRS meeting with Jason McGill of governor's healthcare policy staff — WSRS meeting with Jason McGill of governor’s healthcare policy staff

WSRS delegation visits Rep Christine Ryu 1-26-17 - cropped — WSRS delegation visits Rep Christine Ryu

Tacoma rads & Madigan resident Anne Gunn visit Sen O'Ban 1-26-17 — Tacoma rads & Madigan resident Anne Gunn visit Sen O’Ban

Tacoma area radiologists & lobbyist Jim Hedrick 1-26-17 — Tacoma area radiologists & lobbyist Jim Hedrick

Senator Sam Hunt - center - with WSRS advocacy day participants 1-26-17 — Senator Sam Hunt – center – with WSRS advocacy day participants

members & members in training in the rotunda 1-26-17 — members & members in training in the rotunda

Lobbyist Jim Hedrick gives schedule updates during lunch break

If you have questions about WSRS government relations activities or would like to get involved, please contact executive director Debra Alderman: debra@wsrs.org or 206-956-3650.

2019 Day in Olympia WSRS members visit legislators & express their concerns on healthcare legislation