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Ready for Session
The 2026 legislative session began this week, and KCMS is prepared to dive into this 60-day session and advocate on behalf of physicians and patients.
Grounded in recent KCMS policy work.
KCMS is engaged on legislative issues aligned with resolutions adopted through our Delegate Council, ensuring that member-driven priorities guide our advocacy. Some of those include:
- SSB 5395 – Transparency and Accountability in the Prior Authorization Process
- HB 2094 – Coroner Reform
- 340B – Federal Drug Pricing Program
- HB 1430 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Physician Assistant Reimbursement
Advocating with experienced leadership.
KCMS is engaging in this work in partnership with our lobbyist, James Paribello.
New advocacy resource coming soon.
During session, KCMS will produce a legislative advocacy video offering practical guidance on how to engage most effectively in Olympia. This video, once completed, will be shared directly via our newsletter and housed permanently on our website.
Staying connected statewide.
KCMS attended the State of Reform Health Policy Conference on January 8 in Seattle and engaged with health care professionals from across Washington state.
Looking ahead.
KCMS will continue to monitor legislation, engage with policymakers, and keep members informed as session moves forward. We look forward to working alongside our members throughout the session to advance thoughtful, physician-informed health policy in Washington state.
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None of This Happens Without You
Thank you to our members who have already renewed.
Your continued support makes KCMS’s advocacy, education, and physician leadership possible.
A special thank you to our retired physician members.
Retired members continue their membership through a reduced annual dues rate, and their institutional knowledge, perspective, and ongoing commitment remain invaluable to KCMS’s work.
Haven’t renewed yet?
Please click the button below to access our renewal page, or mail your check directly to KCMS at: KCMS 200 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Not a member yet?
We invite you to join KCMS today and be part of a strong, physician-led community advancing health care in Washington state.
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𝐊𝐂𝐌𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
KCMS remains aligned with evidence-based, science-driven immunization practices and continues to support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule as the gold standard for protecting child and community health.
WSMA recently issued a statement expressing concern about federal revisions to the U.S. Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and urges clinicians and families to continue following established, evidence-based recommendations, a position that aligns with KCMS’s evidence-based approach.
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Why The Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act Needs to Pass
By Erik Wexler, President and CEO of Renton, WA-based Providence. Initially published in Modern Healthcare on Dec 5, 2025.
Bipartisan agreement in Congress is rare these days, but some issues transcend party lines. Healthcare for senior citizens is one of them. The Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act, introduced in both the House, H.R. 4559, and Senate, S. 2879, would be a win for older adults, including those in rural communities.
With bipartisan support, every member of Congress should support this straightforward solution to a problem affecting millions of Americans, hospitals, and clinics.
For seniors living on fixed incomes, delayed payments from commercial insurers do more than create inconvenience. They undermine confidence in their coverage. Instead of feeling secure, older Americans often worry about unexpected medical bills, which can make them hesitant to schedule appointments or follow recommended treatments. Timely payments ensure seniors receive preventive care, follow-up visits, and treatments that keep them healthy and active.
The Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act will hold commercial insurers to the same standards as traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must pay hospitals and providers within 14 days. Commercial insurers, on the other hand, often delay payments for many months, sometimes more than a year. During that delay, they earn interest on taxpayer funds that should go to providers who have already delivered care. There is no justification for this practice.
The cumulative effect of these delays is mounting financial pressure for hospitals and clinics, forcing difficult decisions such as cutting services, reducing staff, or even closing their doors. Across the country, more than $6.4 billion in claims are delayed or denied, with hospitals spending nearly $26 billion annually just to adjudicate these claims. These consequences ripple through communities, limiting access to care and threatening local health systems.
The Prompt Pay Act would change that. Under the bill, commercial insurers must pay at least 95% of “clean claims” within 14 days for electronic submissions and 30 days for paper or out-of-network claims. This simple change would restore fairness to a system that too often leaves patients anxious and hospitals in a precarious financial position.
KCMS is sharing this commentary because payment delays are a significant concern for physicians, clinics, and patients in King County.
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What We Learned from the KCMS Cervical Cancer Education & Equity Initiative
Over the past fifteen months, KCMS has partnered with clinicians to support better care for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Through practical education, workflow tools, and equity-focused resources, this initiative was designed to fit real-world clinical practice, and we’re grateful to the clinicians who took the time to share their feedback.
The results were encouraging.
- Clinicians told us they felt more confident and better equipped to manage the complexities of recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer care. Survey responses showed increased understanding of systemic treatment options, biomarker and molecular testing, and guideline-aligned management strategies.
- Many respondents also reported greater confidence in day-to-day practice, including treatment selection, referral timing, and navigating prior authorization requirements. Several noted earlier engagement with oncology specialists and improved awareness of clinical trial options.
- Sixty-five percent reported more frequent consideration of social determinants of health when planning treatment.
- Engagement with the educational resources was strong throughout the project, with more than 2,100 views across 21 short, on-demand videos, and use of the Prior Authorization Toolkit and downloadable clinical flyers. All resources remain publicly available.
Together, these insights reinforce the value of clinician-centered, workflow-aligned education in supporting more timely, coordinated, and equitable cervical cancer care.
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The Arthritis Foundation invites clinicians to a special Post-ACR Convergence Review & Dinner on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at The Westin Seattle.
Speakers and Topics of Discussion
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Namrata Singh, MD, MSCI, FACP - UW Medicine: Division of Rheumatology - Bone
Katie Wysham, MD - UW Medicine: Division of Rheumatology - Vasculitis
Ali Bays, MD, MPH - UW Medicine: Division of Rheumatology - SLE
Jenna Thomason, MD, MPH - UW Medicine: Division of Rheumatology - JIA Guidelines
Susan Shenoi, MD, MS - Seattle Children’s Hospital - Basic and Translational Studies
Tomas Mustelin, MD, PhD – UW Medicine: Division of Rheumatology - Sjogrens/IgG4
Erin Bauer , MD – Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AxSpA Guidelines
Phil Mease, MD – Seattle Rheumatology Associates
email Washington@arthritis.org. Admission is free for physicians, fellows, and residents.
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The Bree Collaborative
The Bree Collaborative convenes multidisciplinary clinical workgroups to develop evidence-informed recommendations that improve quality of care across Washington State.
In 2026, the Bree Collaborative will be advancing work in the following areas:
Perimenopause and Menopause
Meeting: Second Wednesdays, 2:30–4:00 PM PST
Chair: Dr. Nicole Saint-Clair, Regence BlueShield
Lung Health: Lung Cancer Screening and Tobacco Cessation
Meeting: First Wednesdays, 3:00–4:30 PM PST
Chair: Dr. Joelle Fathi, GO2 for Lung Cancer
Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
Meeting: Second Mondays, 2:30–4:00 PM PST
(First meeting: January 26, 2026)
Chair: Dr. Kristoffer Rhoads, UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center
We encourage interested members to participate in public comment, and consider joining a 2026 workgroup. These collaborative efforts play an important role in shaping evidence-based care across the state. For questions or to learn more, please contact bree@qualityhealth.org.
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Your Voice Matters on Social MediaSocial media platforms shape public understanding, influence policy, and connect people to trustworthy information. We encourage you to FOLLOW US, a simple thumbs up 👍 or quick Okays 👌are great.
We have a new platform: you can follow KCMS on Bluesky at kcmsociety.bsky.social
Please, follow KCMS on our existing platforms:
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