WPHP Blog

Physician Advocacy in Action at the 2026 WSMA Legislative Summit

Dr. Chris Bundy, Executive Medical Director of the Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP), participated in the 2026 Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) Annual Legislative Summit at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, advocating on behalf of physicians and the patients they serve.

The Summit is an advocacy event that brings together Washington physicians, physician assistants, residents, and medical students to engage directly with state legislators on critical health care policy priorities. The day featured insights from health policy leaders, robust discussion of WSMA’s legislative agenda, and in-person meetings between WSMA members and their district legislators. Gov. Bob Ferguson also attended the event.

WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, opened the Summit with welcoming remarks, followed by an overview of WSMA’s legislative priorities. Dennis Worsham, Secretary of Health, shared updates from the Washington State Department of Health, while WSMA’s government affairs team provided an overview of the legislative landscape and priority issues. Ryan Moran, Director of the Washington State Health Care Authority, spoke, and a panel discussion featured legislative health care leaders Rep. Dan Bronoske, Sen. Ron Muzzall, and Rep. Joe Schmick.

During the Summit, Dr. Bundy met with Sen. Javier Valdez and Rep. Gerry Pollet to discuss WSMA’s legislative priorities and other issues of critical importance to the medical profession.

Throughout the day, WSMA members advocated for several key legislative priorities, including:

Preserving Physician Practices and Patient Access to Care: Supporting budget priorities that help keep physician practices viable and ensure continued patient access to care, including reforms to prior authorization and insurance payments, and addressing the impact of the B&O tax on physician practices.
Scope of Practice: Opposing scope of practice proposals that ignore the unique training of physicians, fail to include necessary education and training requirements, and could jeopardize patient safety.
Preserving Access to Preventive Services and Immunizations: Supporting HB 2242/SB 5967 to preserve access to preventive services, including immunizations, for individuals enrolled in health plans regulated by the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner and those who access vaccines through Washington state’s Childhood Vaccine Program.
Improving Transparency in Health Care Professional Titles: Supporting HB 2261/SB 611, consumer protection legislation designed to improve transparency in health care professional titles and ensure clarity for patients.

The Summit highlighted the collective impact of physician advocacy and underscored WSMA’s commitment to advancing its 2026 legislative priorities on behalf of Washington’s medical community and the patients they serve. Working together ensures a healthier future for Washington state!

Pictured with Dr. Bundy (left to right): Sarah Brown, MD, FASA, Pediatric Anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s; Nancy Connolly, MD, MPH, Internal and Addiction Medicine at the University of Washington.

WPHP Attends 2025 Washington State Medical Association Legislative Summit

Dr. Chris Bundy, Executive Director of the Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP), participated in the 2025 Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) Annual Legislative Summit, held at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. This event serves as a critical platform for Washington’s medical community—physicians, physician assistants, residents, and medical students—to engage with state legislators and advocate for key healthcare priorities.

The Summit featured updates from healthcare policy leaders, insightful discussions on WSMA’s legislative agenda, and direct meetings between WSMA members and local legislators.

WSMA President, John Bramhall, MD, PhD, provided inspiring opening remarks, while WSMA’s government affairs team presented an in-depth look at the association’s legislative priorities for 2025. Representative Nicole Macri presented on the Medicaid Access Program and the state budget outlook. Kyle Karinen, Executive Director of the Washington Medical Commission, provided an update along with Commissioner Patty Kuderer, Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Three legislative priorities WSMA members were advocating for with their district legislators throughout the day were:

Medicaid Access Program: Pass the Medicaid Access Program to promote access to care and fund needed investments in Washington state’s Medicaid program.
Business of Medicine: Preserving Physician Autonomy and Independent Practice: Oppose proposals that risk physician practice viability and patient access to care. Support proposals that promote patient access to care and physician employment and practice autonomy.
Scope of Practice: Oppose scope of practice proposal that ignore the unique training of physicians, fail to include necessary education and training requirements, and could jeopardize patient safety.

It was another successful WSMA Advocacy Day in Olympia! The Summit gave Washington’s physicians, physician assistants, residents, and medical students an opportunity to amplify advocacy message with state legislators.

Jennifer Hanscom, WSMA CEO, and Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM

Bridget Bush, MD, WSMA President-Elect; John Bramhall, MD, PhD, WSMA President; and Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM

Vivienne Meljen, MD, WSMA BOT, and Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM

WPHP Joins the Conversation at the WSMA Annual Meeting

WPHP was pleased to attend the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) Annual Meeting. This gathering of physicians and healthcare leaders from across the state is an essential event where key decisions are made to shape the future of healthcare policy, elect leadership, and address pressing issues affecting the medical community.

For WPHP, this meeting represents a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues, stay informed about critical healthcare developments, and contribute to conversations that directly impact the well-being of Washington’s medical professionals.

At the heart of our mission is supporting the health and sustainability of healthcare professionals. By attending the WSMA Annual Meeting, we reinforce our commitment to advancing physician wellness and addressing the challenges that impact those we serve.

We’re excited to bring back insights that will further enhance our work in supporting healthcare professionals across Washington.

WPHP remains committed to strengthening the medical community, because when physicians thrive, everyone benefits.

An Update on the Washington Practitioner Application

Check out this edition of WSMA’s Weekly Rounds to learn more about the updated Washington Practitioner Application. A big thank you to Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) , Washington Medical Commission , and Washington Credentialing Standardization Group (WCSG) for all your support along this journey!

WPHP Advocates For Participants

WPHP works to protect and enhance the confidentiality of our participants. We’ve compiled a list to highlight some of the hard work we’ve done over the past year.

Recently, Dr. Bundy interviewed with InvestigateTV to explain how confidentiality for physicians translates to safer care for patients.

A few weeks ago, in partnership with the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Medical Commission, WPHP was successful in preserving an important protection for participant confidentiality in the public records act.

WPHP introduced legislation in 2022 that adds enhanced confidentiality protections for program participants. SSB 5496 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

In November 2021, WPHP worked closely with the Washington Medical Commission to remove licensure questions about health history, replacing them with an advisory that points to WPHP. The amended application only asks about current impairing or potentially impairing substance use that is not known to WPHP.

A Message from WSMA

WPHP stands with Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) on this important message. #GetVaccinated

Thank you, WSMA for sharing this important article on burnout among health care workers in Washington!

Read Now

COVID-19 Vaccine updates from WSMA

Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is leading COVID-19 vaccination education efforts in Washington and has up-to-date information for health care workers needing vaccinations.

Learn More

WSMA statement of the death of George Floyd

WPHP endorses and supports WSMA’s Statement on the Death of George Floyd. We are actively working to intensify opportunities to identify and counter systemic racism within our organization, the health care system and beyond. Thank you WSMA for leading the way!