News & Updates
ARMS End of Year
Newsletter - 2025
ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED MEDICAL STAFF (ARMS)
2025 Annual Report and Member Survey
About ARMS
The Association of Retired Medical Staff (ARMS) was established in 1990 to make the transition from active practice to retirement easy, to maintain the friendships and collegiality of retirees, and to continue the connection to the Permanente Group.
We sponsor three luncheons annually in the Seattle/Tacoma area, maintain a website, and send periodic newsletters and updates to members.
2025 Activities
In 2025, we held three successful luncheons:
March – Murano Hotel, Tacoma: Dr. Bill Affolter described his unique experience interviewing people from a park bench
July – Salty's, West Seattle: Dr. Jim Demaine shared insights from his book Facing Death
October – Dr. Rick Rapport presented the history of Medic One from his book Seattle's Medic One: How We Don't Die
Post-luncheon surveys reflected general satisfaction with both the events and programs. Attendees expressed strong interest in continuing the luncheons, valuing the opportunity to visit with colleagues and hear engaging presentations.
Our website is being improved. Please go to it and send us suggestions for easier access and ideas for more content. We are especially interested in having contributions from you, the membership, e.g., stories, essays, activities, travels, opinion pieces, volunteer opportunities, life experiences, learnings, etc.
Challenges and Financial Update
Since its inception, ARMS has faced two primary challenges: increasing member involvement across the state and sustaining financing. Currently, ARMS is supported by a subsidy from WPMG and attendee fees. This year, costs and revenues were balanced.
Important Change: Due to the expense of recording and hosting virtual meetings with minimal virtual attendance, we will discontinue virtual linkages to the luncheons. We hope to continue recording programs for later viewing on the website.
Future financial sustainability will depend on continued WPMG subsidies and luncheon fees. If circumstances change, we may need to consider additional member support, such as annual fees or voluntary contributions.
Goals for 2026
Continue luncheons with engaging speakers
Expand engagement in Spokane and Olympia with local meetings
Increase the visibility and utility of the website to provide valuable resources for members
The dates for the 2026 luncheons will be March 24 in Tacoma area, July 28 in Seattle Area, and October 22 place to be determined.
ARMS can be a valuable resource for retirees to maintain friendships, promote continuing education, and strengthen connections with the Permanente Group and our communities.
Hugh Straley
In October many Kaiser Medicare enrollees received a letter that caused dismay,
At the top of the mailing was this statement: IMPORTANT NOTICE: Your Medicare plan won’t be offered in 2026.
As it turns out, Kaiser is not exiting the Medicare market and remains committed to offering 2 or 3 plans in each region, which may have some minor variations at the county level. Kaiser reviewed its plans in 2025 and made some adjustments in benefits and coverage with a goal of covering costs (not making a profit) and maintaining quality. The new plans could no longer be offered under the original names, which meant that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services required a template letter be sent to everyone affected by the change. Kaiser was not allowed to insert its own language and was not allowed to market its replacement plans.
Victory Lindholm, part of the Kaiser marketing team, spoke to the Senior Caucus October 3 to provide details. You can view that presentation via this link: https://youtu.be/j4jzTUyOmCM
The bottom line:
Every Medicare plan that has been discontinued has been replaced by a similar plan
KP providers will remain the sameElectronic medical record and medical record numbers will remain the same
Prescriptions and pharmacy network will remain the same
Care will continue to be coordinated by KP providers.
Telehealth will continue to be covered
Everyone will need to enroll in a new plan and Kaiser has a robust plan to do that. Enrollment starts October 15
You can call both to get information at 855-799-7483
You can go online, type in your zip code and see what plans are available to you. You can even see how the plans compare to each other and to your current plan https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/shop-plans/ready-for-medicare
Webinars and seminars are being scheduled
You can enroll by phone, online or by downloading and mailing a form.
Food Bank Help
Individuals looking for help, or to donate, should reach out to their local food bank.
More help locating food resources is available on the Washington Department of
Agriculture’s website, or by calling 360-725-5640. You can also call 211, or visit
Washington 211’s website, for help locating additional resources.
Books Recommended or Written by Colleagues
Beyond Limits
Dr. Susan Warwick ob - gyn forwarded this suggestion as a well received book. Author Dr. Sella writes about her experience as an abortion provider. For 20 years, Dr. Shelley Sella saw patients whose diverse backgrounds and circumstances led them to the same difficult decision: to end their pregnancies. In her new book, Beyond Limits, Sella draws from her experiences to offer a window into a typical week at her clinic, weaving together patient stories.
https://townhallseattle.org/event/dr-shelley-sella/
Dr. Sella will be coming to Seattle Thursday September 11, at the Wyncote NW Forum.
1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.)
Seattle, 98101 Dr. Shelley Sella with Amelia Bonow. Townhall.org.
Seattle’s Medic One
Our own Dr. Rick Rapport has several books out including players many of us remember from practice or our training. In 1968, Dr. Leonard Cobb, along with Seattle fire chief Gordon Vickery, began to implement something new and daring: one of the country's first pre-hospital coronary care systems. Along with Dr. Michael Copass, they started Medic One, an emergency service unlike any other. ...
Facing Death
Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End.
Jim deMaine spent nearly forty years caring for severely ill patients and witnessing their final days as a pulmonary and critical care specialist. He was the chief of medical specialties and co-chaired the ethics committee at Group Health Cooperative (now Kaiser Permanente).
