News You Can Use

October 14, 2022

This is a publication to keep you informed of issues and events pertaining to the osteopathic profession in Washington State. We invite you to submit topics or articles of interest to your colleagues for consideration.

Submissions may be emailed to executivedirector@woma.org

A Letter from WOMA's President

Happy Fall Everyone!

Our recent annual osteopathic conference in September, held in partnership with Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, was a success! We had some incredible speakers and faculty members, and it was wonderful to celebrate our first in-person conference in three years with old and new friends in Yakima. If you were not able to attend but are interested in still viewing the recorded sessions, please contact our Executive Director – Roseanne Anderson (executivedirector@woma.org) for information on when the recordings will be available, and for pricing information when they are ready.

In addition to our academic offerings, we also held our annual business meeting for the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association. At the beginning of the meeting, we did not have a candidate for President of WOMA for 2023. However, Dr. Scott Fannin of King County was nominated from the floor and received the majority vote from the voting members present – congratulations to Dr. Fannin on his election as President of WOMA for 2023! With Dr. Fannin taking the helm at the beginning of 2023, he will be joined by the following Board of Governors members:

Dr. Mark Baldwin of Yakima County - Vice-President

Dr. David Farrell of King County - Secretary/Treasurer     

Dr. Monica Haines of King County - Director, Professional Affairs

Dr. Kim Ha Wadsworth of Thurston County - Director of Public Affairs Dr. Tara Nair of King County - Director of Membership

We were also thrilled to share in congratulating WOMA member Dr. Katina Rue of Yakima County, as she just became President of the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) – the first osteopathic physician in state history to do so! We frequently partner with WSMA on advocacy efforts and other activities supportive of our mutual member's practices, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with WSMA. Congratulations Dr. Rue!

With the Fall season upon us, change is in the air. For myself, a very big change has occurred as I have taken a career opportunity in Los Angeles. I have just relocated to the City of Angels and will serve out the remainder of my presidential term from afar. I will continue to serve next year as the Immediate Past President of WOMA, and I hope to maintain my WOMA ties in the future. If anyone comes down to visit Universal Studios, Disneyland, or Hollywood, feel free to reach out to me and we can grab a coffee (or some other overpriced Los Angeles beverage). It has been a pleasure and honor to serve on the WOMA board these past 8 years and I wish you all the best.

Kind Regards,

David M. Escobar, DO, MPH, FAAFP

President, WOMA

drdavidescobar@gmail.com

"Why It's a Great Time to Be a DO" Article

Below is an excerpt from a recent article regarding the growth of the osteopathic profession. Click the link to read the full article.

"The comparison between MD and DO arises frequently, even though both complete similar rigorous medical training. As the American Medical Association explains, MDs do theirs in allopathic medical schools—meaning they offer a “traditional medical curriculum”—and DOs complete an additional 200 hours learning the musculoskeletal system so they can perform OMT.

Patients may wonder if OMT is like chiropractic, a reasonable question. Sometimes the difference is described as OMT being a less aggressive approach. As Cleveland Clinic describes it, OMT utilizes gentle pressure to manipulate the muscles, soft tissues, and joints to encourage proper alignment and balance of bones and muscles.

Ideal for future doctors seeking a more personal touch in medicine, DO offers an alternative that appeals to many. For example, AOA says that:

• In 2021 more than 7,500 new DOs joined the workforce.
• Total DO physicians number almost 135,000 currently and
• That represents an 80 percent increase compared to the last decade.
• DOs also account for approximately 11 percent of all US physicians.
• Approximately 26 percent of medical students attend an osteopathic medical school."

Click here to read the full article.

Provider Recognition Program

The Department of Labor and Industries has begun the application process for a new state-wide pilot called the Provider Recognition Program (PRP). The PRP is an incentive program that seeks to reward providers who meet or exceed best practice measures, even those not enrolled in a COHE. The pilot is limited to 100 attending providers within Washington State, so they encourage providers who are interested to act fast. 

Here’s some information about the PRP:

What are the financial incentives that I can receive?

• $385 for each new worker in addition to initial visit charges when an attending provider is also enrolled in a COHE.
• $350 for each new worker in addition to initial visit charges when an attending provider is not enrolled in a COHE.
• $850 to the new attending provider for each worker who has a complex claim.
• $250 for your Health Services Coordinator to assist you with a new worker who has a complex claim. 

What are the PRP Best Practices?

For information on the PRP Best Practices, please visit the PRP Best Practices Website.

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply?

Attending providers are eligible to join the PRP Pilot. L&I defines attending providers as the primary provider (listed as an attending provider on a workers' compensation claim) treating a patient who has been injured on the job. You must be an attending provider for at least one patient per year to be eligible for this pilot.

For further eligibility requirements, please visit the PRP Eligibility and Requirements website.

How can I apply?

Providers who are interested can apply on the PRP website.

What if I have questions?

Email: ProviderRecognitionProgram@Lni.wa.gov

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