Washington L&I Makes Appointments to Advisory Committees

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced appointments to medical and chiropractic advisory committees that will assist the department in providing high-quality, safe and cost-effective treatments for injured workers.

“The committees will help L&I continue to lead the way nationally in providing quality medical care to injured workers while maintaining a low rate of growth in the costs of medical benefits,” said L&I Director Judy Schurke.

The Industrial Insurance Medical Advisory Committee is a new group that will advise L&I on coverage criteria, practice guidelines, medical programs and other medical issues. Schurke appointed the 14 members from among 32 nominations submitted by statewide medical societies and health-care organizations. Selection criteria included experience treating injured workers, background in evidence-based medicine and quality assurance, and professional leadership.

New members of the medical advisory committee are:
*Ruth M. Bishop, DO, osteopathic medicine, Burien;
*Gregory T. Carter, MD, rehabilitation medicine, Centralia;
*Dianna Chamblin, MD, rehabilitation medicine and occupational medicine, Everett;
*G.A. DeAndrea, MD, MBA, neurology, Kirkland;
*Jordan Firestone, MD, PhD, occupational medicine and neurology, Seattle;
*Andrew Friedman, MD, physical medicine and pain management, Seattle;
*Kirk T. Harmon, MD, occupational medicine and internal medicine, Fife;
*Walter F. Krengel, III, MD, orthopedic surgery, Seattle;
*Robert G.R. Lang, MD, neurosurgery, Olympia;
*Sohail K. Mirza, MD, orthopedic surgery, Seattle;
*John D. Patz, DO, family medicine and addiction medicine, Seattle;
*Janet E. Ploss, MD, occupational medicine and pain management, Seattle;
* Mark D. Sullivan, MD, PhD, psychiatry and pain management, Seattle; and
*Gerald N. Yorioka, MD, family medicine, Mill Creek.

The Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee will provide peer review and advise on chiropractic issues. All nine members were re-nominated by the Washington State Chiropractic Association from the department’s previous Chiropractic Advisory Committee to fill 1-3 year terms. Committee members are:
*Robert Baker, DC, Bellingham;
*Clay Bartness, DC, Longview;
*Roger Coleman, DC, Othello;
*Linda DeGroot, DC, Renton;
*Michael Dowling, DC, Kirkland;
*Lissa Grannis, DC, Lakewood;
*J.F. Lawhead, DC, Spokane;
*William Pratt, DC, Cashmere; and
*Ron Wilcox, DC, Tumwater.

The committees were created by legislation signed into law this year. Although similar committees have operated in the past, these committees are the first to be authorized in statute. The committees will coordinate, as necessary, with the State Health Technology Assessment Program and the State Prescription Drug Program, both administered within the Washington State Health Care Authority.

Source: L&I