News You Can Use
April 30, 2021
 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
The Virtual Osteopathic Conference
NOW STREAMING ON-DEMAND until June 30!
WHAT ATTENDEES LOVE ABOUT THE VOC

"I enjoyed the variety of lectures. It was great that I could listen to the lectures at times that I had available. This was the easiest way that I have been able to obtain CME. It was an excellent run course and extremely user-friendly. "

"The speakers across the board were some of the best I 've ever seen."

"The variety of subjects was interesting and the speakers are very good in their individual fields."
About the VOC

Only Buy What You Need
Registrants have a choice of how much CME credit they want to purchase for this virtual event. You may purchase CME in 8-credit increments.  

Pick from 48 Courses 
  • 48 CME credits of AOA Category 1-A Credit and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • Specialty lectures in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and more! 
  • Click HERE to view the full schedule.

CME 24/7
Complete courses via live broadcast and/or on-demand until JUNE 30. 

Brought to you by:
Proposed New Rule for the Provision of
Dental Anesthesia

Attached is the CR101 Pre-proposal Statement of Inquiry filed on April 20, 2021, as WSR #21-09-070 for 246-853 WAC osteopathic physician and surgeon rules. The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (board) is considering a new rule section to establish rules to regulate the provision of anesthesia in dental settings.
The board will be holding stakeholder meetings to discuss these potential new rules. Meeting dates and information will be provided when these stakeholder meetings are scheduled.
Rules Workshop Announcement for Osteopathic Physicians 

The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (board) has officially filed a CR-101 with the Office of the Code Reviser on August 27, 2020. The WSR# is 20-18-039.
The board is considering rulemaking to address the practice of osteopathic physicians engaging in telemedicine with Washington patients. Possible subjects the board may address are: what, if any, requirements for licensure; record keeping requirements; establishing a patient-practitioner relationship; prescribing issues; and standard of care. Regulating the use of telemedicine would place the board in an active patient safety role.

Proposed Telemedicine Rules Workshop Meeting
In response to the filing, the Board, together with the Washington Medical Commission (WMC), will conduct an open public rules workshop on Friday, June 4, beginning at 1:30 pm via GoToWebinar.
Please register for Telemedicine Rules Workshop at:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This meeting will be open to the public.
In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and to promote social distancing, the board and WMC will not provide a physical location for this meeting. A virtual public meeting, without a physical meeting space, will be held instead.
The purpose of the rules workshop will be to:
  • Invite committee members and members of the public to present draft rule language;
  • Discuss interested parties and public comments; and
  • Discuss next steps.

The draft language can be found on the rules page of the WMC website.
Interested parties, stakeholders, and the general public are invited to participate in the rules workshops or provide comments on draft rules. 
For more information, please contact Tracie Drake, Program Manager, Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery at tracie.drake@doh.wa.gov.  

Updated COVID-19 Treatment Information

Dear Healthcare Partners: 
Thank you for the critical role you play in keeping Washingtonians healthy. As you might be aware, on Friday, April 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) for bamlanivimab, when administered alone, to be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and certain pediatric patients who are at high risk of disease progression or hospitalization.  Please see the full FDA statement here and attached is a letter for health care providers from Eli Lilly and Company that offers additional information. 


According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), REGEN-COV as well as bamlanivimab and etesevimab (administered together) continue to be available under EUA and there is no shortage of monoclonal antibody product. Sites that are administering monoclonal antibodies can order bamlanivimab and etesevimab, etesevimab to pair with the current supply of bamlanivimab that the site has available, or REGEN-COV from the authorized distributor using the direct ordering process. 
ASPR will continue to work with their Federal partners on monoclonal antibody therapies authorized for emergency use and will provide updates as they become available. 
Please contact COVID19Therapeutics@hhs.gov with any questions about this. 
We thank you for your continued support and efforts in the fight against COVID-19.  
Legislative Update

On Sunday, April 25, 2021 the final day of 105 day legislative session, the Legislature passed their 2021-23 operating budget and adjourned SINE DIE.

With the improved revenue outlook and additional federal funding coming from the American Rescue Plan, the budget significantly increases funding in the next biennium, which begins July 1, 2021.

The budget makes significant investments in health care, housing stability, education, and behavioral health.

The Legislature has added $520 million for behavioral health services, $1.1 billion for COVID-19 response and vaccines, over $1.6 billion dedicated to housing and homelessness, $147 million for public health, and funding for the extension of postpartum coverage in Medicaid from 60 days to a full year. To address inequities from COVID-19, the budget provides $340 million for the immigrant relief fund for individuals impacted by COVID-19 and unable to access benefits due to citizenship status and includes $35 million for health coverage for uninsured and underinsured individuals. There is additional health coverage premium assistance for lower income individuals and childcare workers purchasing health coverage through the Health Benefit Exchange. This is all in addition to the $2 billion the Legislature passed in February that appropriated federal funding for rental assistance, schools, childcare, COVID-19 response, and other purposes.

The $59.2 billion state operating budget increases funding by $5.5 billion in the 2021-23 biennium and leaves $1.2 billion in reserves. Helping to fund this increased spending was a $4.3 billion increase in projected revenue from the last biennium, a $1.8 billion transfer from the Budget Stabilization Account to the General Fund, $621 million in savings from increased federal match for Medicaid services, and $417 million from imposing a seven percent tax on capital gains.

SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE BUDGET INCLUDE
-$35 million for health coverage for uninsured and underinsured individuals.
-$50 million for health coverage premium assistance for individuals under 250% FPL.
-$32 million for health coverage premium assistance for childcare workers.
-$1.2 million to extend postpartum coverage from 60 days to one year.
-$1.1 billion for the COVID-19 response, including testing and tracing, vaccine deployment and public health workforce enhancements.
-$147 million for foundational public health.
-$340 million for the immigrant relief fund.
-$46 million to increase adult primary care physician rates.
-$21 million to increase adult dental service rates by 100%.
-$8.3 million to increase awards within the behavioral health loan repayment program.
-$6.5 million to increase behavioral health provider rates.
-$5.2 million to increase family planning clinic rates to the Medicare rate.
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