COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement (Proclamation 21-14.1) for health care providers, workers and settings

Link to Proclamation

General Proclamation Questions

What does Proclamation 21-14.1 do?

Proclamation 21-14.1, issued by Governor Inslee on August 20, 2021, made numerous changes to Proclamation 21-14, issued by Governor Inslee on August 9, 2021, but left the same core requirements in place. As before, the proclamation requires health care providers, defined broadly to include not only licensed health care providers but also all employees, contractors, and volunteers who work in a health care setting, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021. It also requires operators of health care settings to verify the vaccination status of:

1. Every employee, volunteer, and contractor who works in the health care setting, whether or not they are licensed or providing health care services, and
2. Every employee, volunteer, and contractor who provides health care services for the health care setting operator.

On what legal grounds can this be imposed?

In response to the emerging COVID-19 threat, Governor Inslee declared a state of emergency on February 29, 2020, using his broad emergency authority under chapter 43.06 RCW. More specifically, under RCW 43.06.220, after a state of emergency has been declared, the governor may prohibit any activity that they believe should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace. Under an emergency such as this, the governor’s paramount duty is to protect the health and safety of our communities. Read entire FAQ Sheet here...

Join the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) for an interactive live virtual conference September 10, 11 & 12, as we explore the topics surrounding acupuncture in the United States: Medicare, Dry Needling/ Trigger Point Acupuncture, Medicaid, Research, Herbs & Cultural Competency. As we dive into these issues, we will learn why these issues matter to ALL acupuncturists. Learn about the work of the ASA and our member state associations, as we support our profession, locally and nationally.

*Please note; WAEMA Membership includes automatic membership to the ASA, this provides our members with a $50 discount on registration. 

Register & Additional Details Here

DATE: September 10, 11 & 12, 2021
Time: 9:00 AM PDT – 1:30 PM PDT   /   12 Noon EDT – 4:30 PM EDT

12 NCCAOM PDAs pending approval & 12 CAB CEUs pending approval

Live Online Participation Requested
Your participation matters! The acupuncture profession is stronger when we all work together!

Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association (WAEMA) Legislative Alert!

Please submit comments to the Health Care Authority-Health Technology Assessment Program ASAP supporting acupuncture for migraine and tension headaches ASAP!

In 2017, the Health Technology Assessment program had a negative assessment for using acupuncture to treat migraine and chronic tension-type headaches. They chose Botox instead as the preferred treatment. This caused some insurers to drop reimbursement for acupuncture for migraine headaches and prevented L & I from allowing this to be a covered service in the future. Susan Birch, Health Care Authority Director, has chosen Acupuncture for Migraine Headaches to be considered for a re-review. Now is our opportunity to provide comment to support her decision and get acupuncture back as an appropriate treatment for migraine headaches! Acupuncture for chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache selected for re-review by HTA program

Interested parties are invited to provide comments on the 2021 topic selection proposed for re-review by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program. Comments on the proposed topic will be accepted until close of business, September 2, 2021.

Submit all comments to: shtap@hca.wa.gov

Here is a copy of the letter that the WAEMA Board sent to the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program on behalf of our membership.

Letter to HTA from WAEMA

Even if the message is short and sweet, that is OK! The more people that send in comments to support and provide information to the Health Technology Assessment Program the better.

Thank you,

Leslie Emerick
WAEMA Public Policy Director

Attention: If you have not yet completed your required suicide prevention training, please take advantage of the following training opportunity offered by, All Patients Safe, provided free to all medical providers through November 30, 2021.

All Patients Safe offers an engaging and informative option for providers and client-facing staff to become better skilled at suicide prevention. Perspectives of real patients coupled with practical skills help medical providers transfer what they learn to their practice and community. This training meets Washington State's licensure requirements for health care providers to assist in reducing suicide through improved trainings. Details & registration here.

Please Note: In 2019 the WA state legislature passed SHB 1865 which mandated continuing education (CE) requirement for acupuncture and Eastern Medicine practitioners (AEMPs). The bill requiring CE’s was incorporated into the statute regulating AEMPs,RCW 18.06.240. There is a Continued Education requirement for all Washington state AEMPs to take a one-time 6-hour class in suicide prevention (Click for details) 

Washington State Department of Health sent this bulletin
PPE Available from the State

The state personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile (referred to as “the backstop”) has been available to help support state agencies, counties, tribes and other partners through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state backstop will be available to meet COVID-19 PPE requests through Oct. 31, 2021. Now is the time to submit requests for PPE through your county emergency managers.

State, local, and tribal agencies, partner associations, health care providers, including long-term services and supports providers (e.g. adult family homes, supported living agencies, home care agencies, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities), and businesses are encouraged to order PPE to return state backstops to pre-COVID levels and allow entities to utilize existing available PPE before it expires. Read entire bulletin, including how to order, here.

Governor Jay Inslee announced a requirement for most state workers, and on-site contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated. Read more...

Join the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) for an interactive live virtual conference, as we explore the topics surrounding acupuncture in the United States: Medicare, Dry Needling/ Trigger Point Acupuncture, Medicaid, Research, Herbs & Cultural Competency. As we dive into these issues, we will learn why these issues matter to ALL acupuncturists. Learn about the work of the ASA and our member state associations, as we support our profession, locally and nationally.

*Please note; WAEMA Membership includes automatic membership to the ASA, this provides our members with a $50 discount on registration. Don't delay, early bird rates end August 16!

Register & Additional Details Here

DATE: September 10, 11 & 12, 2021
Time: 9:00 AM PDT – 1:30 PM PDT   /   12 Noon EDT – 4:30 PM EDT

12 NCCAOM PDAs pending approval & 12 CAB CEUs pending approval

Live Online Participation Requested
Your participation matters! The acupuncture profession is stronger when we all work together!

Acupuncture for chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache selected for re-review by Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program

Interested parties are invited to provide comments to the HTA. Please submit positive comments in support of acupuncture for the treatment of migraine and chronic tension headaches. If acupuncture is not approved as treatment by this committee it will lead to insurers not covering this service.

Comments on the proposed topic will be accepted until close of business, September 2, 2021.

Submit all comments to: shtap@hca.wa.gov

Washington State Health Care Authority sent bulletin 08/03/2021 view bulletin Here

"WAEMA has been coordinating with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) and the other health professional associations regarding the new law requiring many insurers to pay for PPE expenses during the COVID crisis. Many claims for PPE sent by our profession have gone unpaid, some legitimately and some not. The OIC has been fielding many inquiries about unpaid PPE claims, and has been working to try and resolve the improperly denied claims for PPE.

As you probably know at this point, as of April 17th, we are allowed to bill the insurance companies $6.57 for PPE expenses using CPT code 99072. The law includes only plans where the insurance company is regulated by Washington state and where the payer is the insurance company themselves. A lot of confusion has arisen due to the fact that the ultimate payer is not always known.

Many visits for which you bill for PPE may be denied when: 1) The policy is written in another state OR 2) The insurance company is only acting as an administrator for a union, government, or business who ultimately pays for the claim.

To assist you with identifying which plans are self-insured plans for which PPE will not be paid, the OIC has shared these documents with us (provided below). Please review them to assist you with following up on unpaid 99072 claims."

Governor Inslee released an updated statewide face covering order that took effect May 15, 2021. Please note, face coverings are still required in health care settings, including for individuals who are fully vaccinated.

Excerpt below from updated order dated May 15, 2021
"For example, this order allows fully vaccinated individuals to not wear face coverings, except when in Health care settings..." Read more...