Washington State Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, addresses those gathered for a town hall at Battle Ground City Hall earlier this year. Recently the Washington State Medical Association named Rivers their “Legislator of the Year” for 2017, citing her efforts in passing association-backed legislation.
North County’s own State Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington State Medical Association.
Rivers received the association’s 2017 award for her support of the association’s efforts in the legislature, a release from the group stated last week, specifically mentioning a bill helping physicians fighting the opioid epidemic and her legislation focused on stronger distracted driving laws.
“Each year, the statewide professional organization, representing physicians, physician assistants, resident physicians and medical students, honors a legislator whose knowledge and influence do much to improve the health of people in Washington state,” the release stated. Rivers’ role as chair of the Senate Health Care Committee was “instrumental” in having the bills supported by the association moving through the legislature.
Rivers’ sponsorship of priority bills for the association was also noted in the release, including legislation this year that moved forward solutions identified by the medical and state hospital association’s joint opioid task force to help clinicians fight the opioid epidemic.
“Washington state is facing a worsening crisis of opioid-related addiction and overdose, and Sen. Rivers was crucial in working with the WSMA and our partners to pass legislation giving physicians and hospitals new tools to fight the epidemic,” WSMA President Donna Smith said in the release. “Sen. Rivers helped us secure provisions in the bill that support safe, appropriate prescribing and, importantly, do not interfere with a patient’s ability to have their pain treated.”
Rivers was also the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5289, a bill that allows law enforcement to cite individuals for using electronic devices while driving or when significantly distracted, a significant factor in automobile-related injuries and deaths.
“Sen. Rivers was always available when we needed her, and was excellent at sharing important and timely information on bills and other key issues during the session,” Smith stated. “Sen. Rivers is truly a physician and patient advocate, and we look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
