Team SHB 1045

That's me, third in from the right!

I am pleased to report that the Washington East Asian Medicine Association, with the help of our most excellent lobbyist Leslie Emerick, was successful in passing a bill through the Legislature this year! It was down to the wire at 3.30pm of the last day of the regular session when  the Senate voted 49-0 in a beautiful bipartisan victory for patients and practitioners of East Asian Medicine!

The law establishes an Advisory Committee for East Asian Medicine at the Department of Health and streamlines the licensing process for all East Asian Medicine Providers (EAMPs) by eliminating the onerous requirement of a primary care provider's signature on our licensing documents.

In effect, we have persuaded the legislature that EAMPs no longer need a "hall pass" to practice East Asian Medicine in Washington State.
Many thanks to all my colleagues who wrote emails, letters, and made phone calls to their legislators encouraging them to pass this excellent (and timely) bill; and thanks to Governor Jay Inslee for signing the bill into law (see photos).

Mr. Huson shaking hands with Governor Inslee