Print this pageHealth Technology Clinical Committee
A key component of the HTA program is the use of an independent committee of eleven practicing health care professionals to use the technology assessment reports on the strength of evidence to make coverage decisions. Authorizing legislation requires the Health Care Authority (HCA) Administrator to appoint eleven committee members that include six practicing physicians and five other practicing licensed health professionals who use health technology in their scope of practice. At least two members of the committee must have professional experience treating women, children, elderly persons, and people with diverse ethnic and racial background. See RCW 70.14.090. Committee members cannot work for one of the participating state agencies or have a substantial financial conflict of interest, such as an interest in a health technology company, including the holding of stock options, or the receipt of honoraria or consultant moneys, membership requirements (e.g. confidentiality).
The eleven appointed members bring a diverse set of experience, clinical expertise, practice specialties, advanced education, and knowledge of using evidence in health care. The members are:
Daniel Abrahamson, CPO, LPO
Mr. Abrahamson is a clinical Prosthetic Orthotist at University of Washington, Seattle, WA. He is
also an Assistant Director for the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Prosthetics
Orthotics at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Mr. Abrahamson has been practicing since
1998. Mr. Abrahamson is a member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetics (AAOP);
International Society of Prosthetics Orthotists (ISPO); and the National Association of Prosthetic
and Orthotic Educators (NAPOE).
Lydia Bartholomew, MD, MHA, CPE, FAAFP
Dr. Bartholomew practices Family Medicine at Evergreen Medical Group, where she is the Medical and
Administrative Director of Physician Practices. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family
Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Bartholomew has been practicing in
Washington State since 1986. Previously, she was Senior Medical Director at Qualis Health. Dr.
Bartholomew is a member of the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA); the Washington
Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP); and is a fellow of both the American College of Physician
Executives and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
C. Craige Blackmore, MD, MPH
Dr. Blackmore is the Scientific Director of the Center for Healthcare Solutions at Virginia Mason
Medical Center and is an Affiliate Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington. His
research interests include cost-effectiveness and outcomes analysis of radiology imaging studies
and evidence-based use of imaging. His work has focused on imaging in spine trauma and pelvic
fractures. Blackmore received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of
Medicine and Dentistry in 1990; and a master’s in public health from the University of Washington
in 1997, through the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. He completed a Diagnostic
Radiology residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Blackmore is a co-editor for the
text: Evidence Based Imaging: Optimizing Imaging for Patient Care, and has published over 50
articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has also served on the Editorial Boards of the journals
Academic Radiology, AJR, and the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Blackmore has
delivered numerous lectures on evidence based imaging in the US and Europe.
Brian R. Budenholzer, MD, FAAFP
Brian Budenholzer is a family physician in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from the University of
Southern California - School of Medicine in 1980 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor
society. He trained as a family physician in Charleston, SC. He has been honored as a fellow of
the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Budenholzer continues to embrace the joy of giving
medical care to families – from birth to old age including an active practice of prenatal care and
delivering babies. Dr. Budenholzer is trained in evidence-based medicine and provides evidence-based
medicine expertise in his work for Group Health. He began his medical career providing medical care
to Navajo Indians serving with the Indian Health Service in New Mexico. He joined Group Health in
1986 and has been their regional director of Clinical Enhancement and Development since 1994. He
has been an evidence-based medicine section editor for two medical journals. When not practicing
medicine Dr. Budenholzer loves to ski, travel and spend time with his wife and children. This year
he is thrilled that his daughter’s high school won the Washington state 4A boy’s basketball
championship.
Jay Klarnet, MD, MS
Dr. Klarnet is a medical oncologist practicing with Multicare Medical Center in Tacoma, WA. Dr.
Klarnet has been in practice since 1990. His interests include immunology and stem cell therapy.
Dr. Klarnet is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Puget Sound
Oncology Consortium (PSOC).
Louise Kaplan, RN, MN, PhD, ARNP
Dr. Kaplan, Family Nurse Practitioner has a full time appointment as an Assistant Professor at
Washington State University, Vancouver, WA; and is an affiliate Assistant Professor at the
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Kaplan has been a family nurse practitioner since
1981; and maintains a part time practice at The Clinic in Elma, WA. Dr. Kaplan is a member of the
Washington State Nurses Association’s Legislative and Health Policy Council; a pro team member
of the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission; participates on the Consortium
Advisory Committee; Health Care Authority’s Prescription Drug Program; and serves on the Thurston
County Community Health Task Force.
Michael Myint, MD, MS
Dr. Myint is a Physician at Polyclinic, Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA; and the Medical
Director of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Myint is also an
associate clinical instructor for the University of Washington, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Dr. Myint has been in practice
since 2003. Dr. Myint is a member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA);
American College of Physicians; Infectious Disease Society of America, Washington State Medical
Association, King County Healthcare Coalition – Infectious Disease sub-group member; and
Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Carson E. Odegard, DC, MPH
Dr. Odegard is a Chiropractor and Director at the Odegard Chiropractic Clinic, Kirkland
Professional Center in Kirkland, WA. Dr. Odegard has been in practice since 1980. He is a
member of the Washington State Public Health Association; American Academy of Spine Physicians;
American Public Health Association; Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research; and the
American Chiropractic Association.
Richard C. Phillips, MD, MS, MPH
Dr. Phillips is a General and Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon currently volunteering his services.
Dr. Phillips also volunteers for the Clinical Outcome Assessment Program (COAP), Foundation for
Health Care Quality, Seattle, WA. Dr. Phillips has been in practice since 1986. He is a member
of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Michelle Simon, PhD, ND
Dr. Simon is a naturopathic physician in private practice at the Seattle Healing Arts Center in
Seattle, WA. She has been practicing since 2002. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is co-director of the Communities in Need /
Integrated Care Options Project (CIN/ICO), which is in collaboration with the Washington Association
of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP). She is a member of the WANP and the American Association of
Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).
Michael Souter, MB, Ch-B, DA, FRCA
Dr. Souter is an Anesthesiologist at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA, and a Medical
Co-director of Neurosurgical Critical Care at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. He is also
an Associate Professor in the departments of Anesthesiology and Neurological Surgery for the
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Souter has practiced in the United States since 2001.
Dr. Souter is a member of Washington State Society of Anesthesiologist; American Society of
Anesthesiologists; Society of Critical Care Medicine; International Anesthesia Research Society;
and the Society for Technology in Anesthesia.
History of Documents:
Committee Chair and Vice Chair Announcement (62.5 KB)
Committee Selection Announcement (1.2 MB)
