February 20 - 24, 2023 ~ Session Update |
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Week 7 Brings A Big Win for WMS
Week seven saw House Bill 140 - Mental Health Care Access - Collaborative Care Model cross the finish line! In partnership with the Wyoming Association of Psychiatric Physicians (WAPP), WMS helped to move an important bill requiring insurance payment for collaborative care codes to Governor Gordon's desk for signature. We were thrilled at the support we received throughout the process, from unanimous aye votes in House and Senate Committees and overwhelming majority support in both chambers. The evidence behind the collaborative care model is impressive and we are eager to see the ways our members can utilize this new tool to leverage limited resources and people to deliver the care Wyoming patients so desperately need.
Crafting and passing law is truly a team sport. WMS members should be so proud of the coalition that came together to help us pass legislation aiming to enhance access to mental healthcare in our state. As you are able, please thank the people in your communities who are involved with the following organizations whom all stepped up to testify and advocate in support of HB140.
- Wyoming Association of Psychiatric Physicians (WAPP)
- Wyoming Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics (WY-AAP)
- Wyoming Business Alliance (WBA)
- Wyoming Hospital Association (WHA)
- Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (WAMHSAC)
- Wyoming Primary Care Association (WYPCA)
- Wyoming Counseling Association
- Wyoming Psychological Association
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Wyoming's Sausage Making
John Godfrey Saxe, a popular 19th-century American poet, is quoted as saying, "laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made," which was later whittled to the more pithy "Laws are like sausages. It is best not to see them being made." Many involved in Wyoming politics look to that quote for consolation as we try to decide if the legislative process has ever been quite this challenging. Politics is a messy business, even in the best of times, and especially in the worst of times.
A host of media outlets have dedicated articles this year to the toxic divisions in the Wyoming Legislature and the unprecedented use of rule manipulation. The disrespect for process, lack of decorum, and unending attempts to undermine legislative leadership have taken everyone to the edge and forced interesting decisions on all sides.
A number of legislative proposals hang in the balance as the session nears its close. Monday is the last day for bills to be considered on General File, also known as First Reading or Committee of the Whole. We're all watching with great interest to learn the ultimate fate of legislation as well as how the work of this session will influence this year's interim and future sessions.
As previously reported, WMS leadership elected to advocate a position or otherwise track 38 bills this year. A total of 22 bills have failed this year's process, 9 have gone to the Governor for signature and 7 remain active in this year's debate. All but one of the seven bills still active in this year's process are waiting to be heard on General File and will fail to move forward if not heard on Monday, February 27.
The WMS Bill Tracker has again been reworked to shift all the legislation that has either completed the process or been defeated to the bottom, leaving only those still active in the process at the top. As always, please don't hesitate to contact any county trustee, executive committee member, or member of the WMS staff if you have questions or concerns or wish to get involved and testify with WMS.
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WMS Physicians Make Big Impact in Week 7
Below are three video clips of legislative proposals all of which have had significant WMS physician input throughout this year's process. The first two images, if clicked, will take you to YouTube videos of physician testimony in separate hearings this week. The third image, if clicked, will take you to the House Floor, Second Reading debate on Plan of Safe Care - Newborns, on which WMS physicians played a significant role both through the past interim and the 2023 Session in Cheyenne.
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The time and energy that several WMS and WY-AAP physicians (Andrew Rose, MD and Robert Prentice, MD among others) have dedicated to educating the legislature around the risks and harm of passing SF144 paid off this week.
House Appropriations Committee voted 5-2 to use a sophisticated motion of Do Not Pass for Chloe's Law, a bill that would broadly prohibit gender affirming care in minors.
The bill now sits on General File for consideration, but can not be debated or passed before all other bills on General File with a recommendation Do Pass have been considered.
Monday is the last day for bills to be voted on in Committee of the Whole.
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While WMS remains neutral in the ProLife vs ProChoice debate, we maintain strong advocacy positions around several policy proposals included in SF109.
WMS physicians Jacques Beveridge, MD, Rene Hinkle, MD, and Melissa Dozier, MD, all testified to the House Revenue Committee in efforts to help them understand the devastating impact SF109 would have on women's health in Wyoming.
In response to the physician concerns, the committee significantly amended the bill to remove misoprostol from inclusion in the bill as well as any language that would have captured pharmacists in the legislation.
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SF79 requires healthcare providers and hospitals to develop plans of safe care for infants born with prenatal substance use exposure.
The bill requires that the patient care team report the total number of infants and families for whom a plan of safe care has been developed to the department of family services.
It further requires that the patient care team make a mandatory report to the local child protective agency if they identify any safety concerns for the infant.
WY physicians and hospitals worked tirelessly on this effort through the 2022 interim and are pleased that this bill crossed the finish line this week. It now heads to the Senate for concurrence and then to Governor Gordon for signature.
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Committee Action Taken on Bills in Week 7
You can Livestream video of the floor and committees via the Legislature's YouTube Channel. The listing below only includes bills WMS has been tracking.
House Appropriations
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SF144 - Chloe's law - children gender change prohibition. Committee voted 5-2 on a Motion Do Not Pass WMS OPPOSES
Senate Labor, Health, and Social Services
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HB4 - Medicaid twelve-month postpartum coverage. Committee voted 3-2 on a Motion Do Pass. It now awaits consideration on General File WMS SUPPORTS
Senate Education
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HB34 - School finance - mental health services. Committee voted 2-3 on a Motion Do Pass. Legislation fails to move forward this year. WMS SUPPORTS
House Revenue
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SF109 - Prohibiting Chemical Abortions. Committee amended in response to WMS physician testimony and voted 7-2 on a Motion Do Pass. Bill awaits consideration on General File. WMS OPPOSES
Senate Agriculture
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HB152 - Life is a Human Right Act. Committee amended and voted 5-0 on a Motion Do Pass. Bill awaits consideration on General File. WMS OPPOSES
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The WWAMI E-22 class spent Tuesday at the capitol getting an in-depth view of the state's lawmaking process. The students were joined by Interim CEO of University of Washington Medicine, Tim Dellit, MD, WWAMI Dean of Regional Affairs, Suzanne Allen, MD, Clinical Dean Robert Monger, MD, and WY WWAMI Director Brant Schumaker, DVM. We were also lucky to be accompanied by the University of Wyoming DIO Beth Robitaille, MD, for the day's events.
The group was fortunate enough to spend time with Wyoming's Public Health Officer Alexia Harrist, MD, have lunch with state legislators, be introduced in the House and Senate Chambers and visit with Governor Mark Gordon. They wrapped up their day in Cheyenne with a WY Health Resources Network (WHRN)-hosted reception for the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Programs at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.
Each year, the legislature looks forward to meeting the newest class of Wyoming's WWAMI students and WMS continues to feel honored at the opportunity to be included in the activities. The Legislature has invested a great deal of financial support to growing future generations of Wyoming physicians. The WWAMI day tradition continues to provide a fun way to give the students unique perspective and insights to the process that continues to fund the program and reminds the legislature of the value of investing in Wyoming's brightest students.
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WMS Doc and PA of the Day |
Thank you to our WMS members who served as Doc of the Day this past week.
- Kim Westbrook, MD
- Mike Tracy, MD
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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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