WMC at 3 - Washington Medical Commission COVID-19 Update

Washington Medical Commission sent this bulletin at 08/19/2020 03:00 PM PDT

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The Governor's Office

The Gov. continues to update and provide resources for WA regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more at: www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources
Building on a previous announcement regarding COVID re-opening, Gov. Inslee joined Colorado, Nevada and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to announce intentions to work together on telehealth issues.

The WMC

No Online Payment for License Renewals.The Department of Health (DOH) has informed the WMC there are upcoming challenges for online license renewal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, renewal deadlines were waived until Sept. 30, 2020. Numerous practitioners have chosen to wait to renew. Unfortunately, the DOH system is not configured to handle the renewal deferral and still allow for online payment. In order to maintain an active license, you must send a check payable to the Washington State Department of Health to P.O. Box 1099, Olympia, WA 98507-1099. Renewals post marked on or before Sept. 30 will not be subject to a late fee. If you have questions please email:medical.renewals@wmc.wa.gov.
The WMC is still working to protect the public and license doctors and physician assistants. Despite being remote we are holding commission meetings, doing investigations and processing applications. While we do have some in-office staff, the fastest way to reach anyone at the WMC is via email. Contacts available at wmc.wa.gov/contact-us.

The CDC is partnering with Tribal Communities to slow the spread of COVID-19 which is 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic white persons. Historical trauma and persisting racial inequity have contributed to disparities in health and socioeconomic factors.

The WA State Board of Health recently passed emergency rules to implement Federal Regulatory Requirements for COVID-19 lab reporting. However the DOH cannot currently receive this data electronically. To help prepare the DOH will hold a listening session on Friday, August 21, 2020 at 10:00 am. Read the full letter from DOH.
New WA report highlights COVID-19 cases are plateauing, however, the Secretary of Health warns this is not enough. “While this is encouraging news and a sign of our collective efforts, we must not let our guard down,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman.
WA state drive-in wifi hotspots provide free access for Washingtonians who do not have broadband service. This service can be used for educational needs, job searches, telehealth and more.
Due to COVID-19 impacts, vaccination rates in Washington are down which poses a public health risk. The DOH has created a website with resources for families and providers with everything you need to know about getting vaccinated during the COVID pandemic.
Last week, Washington adopted a new methodology for negative test reporting for COVID-19. Read more...

Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Abdelmalek issued a Letter to the Community yesterday, which states, "We are still in the moderate transmission range (between 25 and 75 cases per 100,000 over 14 days)."

Washington's Risk Assessment Dashboard continues to offer updates on statewide counts (updated at midnight). There are 68,264 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state as of 8/17/20.
In Thurston County, where the WMC offices are located, there have been 806 cases of COVID-19, 11 deaths and 73 hospitalizations as of 8/17/20.

Contact: Stephanie Mason
Email: Stephanie.Mason@wmc.wa.gov
Office: (360) 236-2774