January 23 - 27, 2023 ~ Session Update |
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Physician Voices in Strength
Week three was another big week in Cheyenne featuring an impressive showing of WMS physicians. WMS members worked to ensure that the perspectives of medicine remained at the forefront of lawmakers' minds this week. Physician voices were present:
- Opposing Senate File 109 - Prohibiting Chemical Abortions:
- Rene Hinkle, MD
- Sarah Gregory, MD
- Austin Barnes, MD
- Lauren Millett, MD
- Larry Meuli, MD
- Giovannina Anthony, MD
- Opposing Senate File 111 - Child abuse - change of sex:
- Bob Prentice, MD
- Andrew Rose, MD
- April Kranz, MD
- Rebecca Franklund, MD
- Supporting House Bill 140 - Mental health care access - collaborative care model:
- Jasper James Chen, MD
- Andrew Rose, MD
The proceedings of the Wyoming Legislature are streamed on YouTube. WMS has initiated a 2023 Legislative Playlist of physician testimony video clips from this past week. The three video clips featured below are just a few of the featured videos available on the channel. We encourage you to take a moment to watch your colleagues and please thank them for standing up for medicine.
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Psychiatric
Collaborative Care
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The WMS team continues to monitor and provide education on a growing list of legislative proposals all of which, if passed, would touch the practice of medicine, our members' ability to care for patients to the best of their ability, reimbursement models, or public health and safety. |
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The WMS Board of Trustees met last week to determine positions on a myriad of issues. Those position decisions are reflected on the WMS Bill Tracker. If you disagree with any position taken by the board, take advantage of the opportunity provided through THE WIRE to voice your opinions and thoughts!
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WMS invested a great deal of time and resources to establish THE WIRE designed to enable any member, at any time, to take an active role in shaping the policy agenda for the medical society.
- Log into THE WIRE and see if any proposals have been submitted for review and comment. Once logged in, you can navigate to all the proposals submitted to date by clicking on the Proposals Archive.
- Review the comprehensive listing of bills on the state legislative website, or on the WMS Bill Tracker. See if anything catches your attention.
- Submit a proposal in THE WIRE for voting and comment across the membership for the WMS Board to review prior to next week's meeting in Cheyenne.
Remember, logging into THE WIRE is easy. Simply use the email on file with WMS and the same password you have set to log into www.wyomed.org for your member account management. If you have any trouble, simply use the Reset Password feature on the site, or contact a member of the WMS staff for assistance at 307-635-2424 or at info@wyomed.org
WMS takes legislative positions in accordance with the organization's policy platforms. Our advocacy work is prioritized around proposals that align with our pursuit of improving:
- Access to Care for Wyoming Patients
- Medical Liability Reform
- Medicaid Programming and Funding
- Physician Recruitment & Loan Repayment
- Medical Education and Residency Training
- Patient Safety, and
- Public Health and Tobacco Prevention
- Protecting the Physician-Patient Relationship
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WMS Doc and PA of the Day |
There are still days available to volunteer for Doc or PA of the Day. WMS is proud of this program which provides a great opportunity for WMS members to provide a valuable service to the legislature and have a front-row seat to the legislative process. Click below to learn more and see what days remain open. Email info@wyomed.org if you're interested in spending a day at the Capitol with us!
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Bills in Committee in Week Three |
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Several of the bills being monitored by WMS received debate this week. They are as follows:
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Prohibiting chemical abortions - Prohibits any person from manufacturing, distributing, prescribing, dispensing, selling, transferring, or using any chemical abortion drug in the state for the purpose o procuring or performing an abortion. OPPOSE - Passed Labor/Health committee on a 4-1 vote
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Anesthesiologist assistants licensing - Authorizes licensure of anesthesiologist assistants. SUPPORT - Failed committee 3-6 vote
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Child abuse - change of sex - Prohibits any medical intervention intended to change the sex of a minor. OPPOSE - Passed committee 3-2
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Mental Healthcare Access-Collaborative Care Model - Requires insurance coverage of collaborative care codes to expand and enhance mental healthcare access. SUPPORT- Passed committee 9-0
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Protection of health care workers - Creates the offenses of assault, the threat of violence, and battery against health care providers. It also establishes associated penalties. SUPPORT - Passed Labor/Health Committee 9-0
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How To Connect and Stay Engaged
Use wyoleg.gov to learn more about this year's legislative process. Below are quick links to important information.
Daily Calendars including floor calendars, audio streams, and committee schedules
Bill Listing that includes all legislative proposals posted for the 2023 Session
As always, Executive Director Sheila Bush welcomes and invites any and all communication. If you have questions about the status of a bill, want to provide feedback or input on legislation, have questions about using THE WIRE, or want to share your thoughts on any other aspect of the WMS advocacy work, please email her at sheila@wyomed.org or call her cell phone at 307-630-8602.
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