Media Public Disclosure Request (Washington State Department Of Health)
| Tracking # |
R042855-060821 R042855-06082 |
| Multi Request | Media Public Disclosure Request |
| Submitted | June 7, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Natalie St. John
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all correspondence, including emails, texts, letters and communications sent via messaging services between Dr. Gary Franklin (or any staff members who work under him and sent or received communications on his behalf) and any of the following:
Dr. Andrew Kolodny
Dr. Jane Ballantyne
Dr. Michael Von Korff
Dr. Rosemary Orr
Dr. Steven Gelfand
Dr. Irfan Dhalla
Dr. Pete Jackson
Dr. David Jurrlink
Dr. Petros Levounis
Dr. Leonard "Len" Paulozzi
Dr. Jon Streltzer
Dr. Art Van Zee
Betts Tully
William/Bill Rummler
Judy Rummler
PROP/Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
SRHF/Steve Rummler Hope Foundation
Steve Rummler Hope Network
This should include all communications in which any of the above mentioned parties is a sender, recipient, or is carbon-copied.
The time frame for this request should be June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2021. If you have deleted earlier documents due to your retention schedule, please provide responsive records for whatever part of that time period exists, and indicate which records are no longer available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. This is part of a journalism project to report on a matter of public safety and interest, so I respectfully request a fee waiver. However, I authorize fees of up to $300. If the cost will exceed that, please call me to discuss before proceeding.
I would be happy to receive responsive documents in installments. Electronic records, such as email attachments are my first choice, but a thumb drive or paper copies would also be acceptable. If I can be of any assistance, please feel welcome to call or email me.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I truly appreciate your assistance.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Natalie St. John
From: Washington State Department Of Health
Dear Natalie St John:
Thank you for submitting a public records request to the Washington State Department of Health. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the State of Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. Your request was received in this office on 6/8/2021 and given the reference number R042855-060821 for tracking purposes. You will receive an official acknowledgement letter within 5 business days from this date. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYC8FIhQn-2FRY527N9FppI-2FREonaJ02k0bqj59oVmfy9tQmGg3nn07nGo-2BO54FXe54L7cZi1uak-2BQz2QukaNLH51rpJlj-2FFv8YhopiQ0bW6Z2xENH_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77DQSfJcxZG0SWy7Tc-2BOfxla84Q1ZzxlcjZGnezEPpYpOhSffJRyJCnI4E8wvXhyKIT923ukN9cKZVfv5-2Bf-2FfHaZOU-2BIdMrQsH9fEU7uOUJ0ClhBDxm1MtfiN4Bzmz8V8vwT03bcVeza4eZc0QXoHsZUg0CakRjkdktCwfJnBPvNtUTSpWKwBkkWP8PkQu82cyJ)
Not all public documents are available in electronic format. If the document(s) requested are not available electronically, we will make them available for inspection or by paper copy in accordance with the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.
Sincerely,
Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Public Records
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the DOH Online Public Records Center (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYC8FIhQn-2FRY527N9FppI-2FREonaJ02k0bqj59oVmfy9tLOhs5H8O0w5l-2BUAKhh8ol-2Bm2vZzIO0zVtEmxk8y8oHc-3DkEe-_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77DQSfJcxZG0SWy7Tc-2BOfxla5hIBCiqSP-2FyxFQSYCQlTgJPrA5rOI0J2BlRPAM0dnYKYwFK6B8xFar9HVWYIOd-2BNd4AzNDpbXSIjrrOuTmaR102F0txvpNaxDiMq3-2B0-2FIiNsOG8mnkAkIXDOPz6NpX6EBV5jQY-2FwLWMbI59ss5brFJKm-2Bv6YV6TAG2t-2FOM6jyut)
Track the issue status and respond at: https://washingtondoh.govqa.us/WEBAPP//_rs/RequestEdit.aspx?rid=101636 (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYC8FIhQn-2FRY527N9FppI-2FQz-2Frox7lrTA1Ru0QzGoHqb04BtLU7Bfss86JYmAx0UNHuD4Y7fQYbA7yExiTeA464-3De5-t_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77DQSfJcxZG0SWy7Tc-2BOfxlazGLyobCmyf7qlswSlixNu4Q3HUrJ0kPf1ol99lfyEVtqxtUzUXUgfbT729FPHN0R-2FIHANsCew1jsc5ZhQqGmMt-2BcsuEOBAdRn6bov046nJR7d2-2F7LfXbeYUOvGcgCY-2BOgx3PDEh86kfMxcP4kimXeqJXoPlt2VYLjawc88Zesm7)
From: Washington State Department Of Health
Dear Natalie St John:
Thank you for registering with the DOH Online Public Records Center!
Your Login ID is: requests@muckrock.com
If you did not create this account but are receiving this e-mail, an account has been created for you where you can view your public records request and receive any updates. If you have never used this system, or you cannot remember your password, you may request a temporary password here: Request Temporary Password. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYC8FIhQn-2FRY527N9FppI-2FREonaJ02k0bqj59oVmfy9tROCY95MrotANg1faAq9OkckLXRED-2ByAt3XOjIPb-2FPFA-3D838K_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77DhtKg6Yshc4D4ghpiIM9vy35twH-2BWYFbFrpHwrH-2Fs1d58qzSk06g5pPxWY3I9g4AwVhUMZ2jJh8-2FWpRS6OPBUg9bcdRuIk931GGMbotq7HPzyO-2FdiKpUhwBLIG0G33oP-2BV2RDpxaDz8dWw7hDc6UF-2BmGgBs0MnyvXa-2FglVRS4VCXSiO1vbXrYNLBYwQ5HoQ7k)
Once logged in, you may select "My Request Center" to update your account information, track the status of your requests, view and pay invoices, and receive requested records when they become available.
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.
From: Washington State Department Of Health
--- Please respond above this line ---
Dear Natalie St John, Thank you for your inquiry.
The Department of Health received your public records request on June 08, 2021 for the following records:
“To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all correspondence, including emails, texts, letters and communications sent via messaging services between Dr. Gary Franklin (or any staff members who work under him and sent or received communications on his behalf) and any of the following:
Dr. Andrew Kolodny
Dr. Jane Ballantyne
Dr. Michael Von Korff
Dr. Rosemary Orr
Dr. Steven Gelfand
Dr. Irfan Dhalla
Dr. Pete Jackson
Dr. David Jurrlink
Dr. Petros Levounis
Dr. Leonard "Len" Paulozzi
Dr. Jon Streltzer
Dr. Art Van Zee
Betts Tully
William/Bill Rummler
Judy Rummler
PROP/Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
SRHF/Steve Rummler Hope Foundation
Steve Rummler Hope Network
This should include all communications in which any of the above mentioned parties is a sender, recipient, or is carbon-copied.
The time frame for this request should be June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2021. If you have deleted earlier documents due to your retention schedule, please provide responsive records for whatever part of that time period exists, and indicate which records are no longer available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. This is part of a journalism project to report on a matter of public safety and interest, so I respectfully request a fee waiver. However, I authorize fees of up to $300. If the cost will exceed that, please call me to discuss before proceeding.
I would be happy to receive responsive documents in installments. Electronic records, such as email attachments are my first choice, but a thumb drive or paper copies would also be acceptable. If I can be of any assistance, please feel welcome to call or email me.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I truly appreciate your assistance.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Natalie St. John”
The Department of Health is in the process of identifying, gathering, and reviewing the records responsive to your request. We anticipate providing records responsive to this request on or before 12/21/2021.
WAC 246-08-990 (RCW 42.56.120) authorizes the Department of Health to collect fees for providing copies either electronically or in paper format. After we have determined the number of records responsive to your request, we will give you a cost estimate for production of the records. Here is a link to the public records fee schedule. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYInqYeQtXc7wrYTKVhUhQuooQ2uKQhZOGFTfUW-2BGjhae2RcZwFB8Jqz8lzYvj8dKLCf7WgJ-2BejE7Bggx3aMDHhEeCA-2BH-2FUX7IPoGOxRwjCdzCBs_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77Do91X-2FuBxb9SLH4TvyrhwUK0sCgEkLpC8Q5XSRkjuSPJ5jBaUabXEhT6-2FA-2F6f4Zy-2FUHMtYwEy3qfvZq6A0aUa8VxWhovelqYgwN7oRv-2B-2F6n6JtXi1FC2aPeupHHZoQ1DkJTBVr69FWmeQlX46-2FtYJ3GufMX7fdjXw0riWpfev29aGNLioXm67hKJ1GFBg5U4c) If you wish to limit your request, or if you have any questions, please feel free respond directly to this email. Sincerely,
RICHARD STRINGFELLOW
Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Public Records
www.doh.wa.gov
From: Washington State Department Of Health
--- Please respond above this line ---
Reference # R042855-060821. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HYC8FIhQn-2FRY527N9FppI-2FREonaJ02k0bqj59oVmfy9tQmGg3nn07nGo-2BO54FXe54L7cZi1uak-2BQz2QukaNLH51rpJlj-2FFv8YhopiQ0bW6Z2UGrP_e3zntE8eXHhSPzbUDED-2FNCNsOlBFXMQ6ZjKgRJOlOF7K54b1yoT2U0mXG0xWS77D-2BPNXgTzISmsCRVUOuv1fJLnXUwHhhqPd-2Fdq6mmHXz-2BaOKpcrtV4otUJW96boQsTtj2DhqtmsNulImgdrzlJLqAzPm9Wcuk-2FQS2kzv-2BO7F6Qw-2FInbgTzPHL4Meh-2FEKJUKjeGZTW4wX-2BRK9igb7V71qhvy5s87OOyD2giPDHdBjSxy-2BUuTsvaJfrtjZzefmBq2) Dear Natalie St John, The Washington State Department of Health received a public information request from you on June 08, 2021. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all correspondence, including emails, texts, letters and communications sent via messaging services between Dr. Gary Franklin (or any staff members who work under him and sent or received communications on his behalf) and any of the following:
Dr. Andrew Kolodny
Dr. Jane Ballantyne
Dr. Michael Von Korff
Dr. Rosemary Orr
Dr. Steven Gelfand
Dr. Irfan Dhalla
Dr. Pete Jackson
Dr. David Jurrlink
Dr. Petros Levounis
Dr. Leonard "Len" Paulozzi
Dr. Jon Streltzer
Dr. Art Van Zee
Betts Tully
William/Bill Rummler
Judy Rummler
PROP/Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
SRHF/Steve Rummler Hope Foundation
Steve Rummler Hope Network
This should include all communications in which any of the above mentioned parties is a sender, recipient, or is carbon-copied.
The time frame for this request should be June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2021. If you have deleted earlier documents due to your retention schedule, please provide responsive records for whatever part of that time period exists, and indicate which records are no longer available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. This is part of a journalism project to report on a matter of public safety and interest, so I respectfully request a fee waiver. However, I authorize fees of up to $300. If the cost will exceed that, please call me to discuss before proceeding.
I would be happy to receive responsive documents in installments. Electronic records, such as email attachments are my first choice, but a thumb drive or paper copies would also be acceptable. If I can be of any assistance, please feel welcome to call or email me.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I truly appreciate your assistance.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Natalie St. John” Good afternoon, Natalie St. John. I am attempting to understand why you think that we might have any records responsive to your request. Is, or was, Dr. Franklin a member of the Washington Medical Commission? We do not normally collect or maintain emails or mail from physicians outside of potential complaint files. I see 3 complaints on Dr. Franklin's license with the last one in 2011. Please advise. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to respond directly to this email. Sincerely, Richard Stringfellow
Gender Pronouns: he/him
Forms and Records Analyst 3
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Public Disclosure Unit
Washington State Department of Health
From: Natalie St. John
Hi there Richard,
Thank you for your email. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long — I’ve been consumed with helping a friend move to San Juan Island and have had zero internet and almost no phone signal for a few days.
Dr. Franklin is a prominent public health expert and anti-opioid activist. He works at LNI as medical director, and is also affiliated with UW, but he also often serves in a consulting capacity with public agencies. I believe that may have included DOH. The other reason he would have had communications with DOH is because he is part of Agency Medical Directors Group, a coalition of medical directions from WA state agencies that work together to create the opioid prescribing guidelines for patients who are treated by state programs, such as DOC inmates, people on workers’ comp, Medicaid clients, etc. So, it is reasonably likely that at some point, he has communicated with Dr. Lofy, etc.
The other people on my list are all affiliated with these efforts and most are members of a nonprofit activist group that Dr. Franklin is active in called PROP (Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing). PROP members often reach out to state officials either in an advisory capacity in relation to opioid policies and legislation, or as activists. WA public health experts were among the first in the country to create policies intended to slow down the opioid epidemic and especially over-prescribing of painkillers, and their work has set a precedent. Much of other state and even federal policy is modeled on Washington’s policies, which were inspired by the vital statistics and public health data DOH keeps. So, it’s a reasonable guess that there would have been some correspondence with others involved in tracking the epidemiology and vital statistics related to opioid addiction and overdose, or with people at DOH who are involved in decision-making, rule-making, legislative action, etc, related to the opioid crisis.
I hope that gives you some helpful leads. If not, feel welcome to write back. I know this is a big request, and I greatly appreciate your help with it.
Best,
Natalie St. John
From: Washington State Department Of Health
Dear Natalie St John:
This message is to notify you that your password to DOH Public Records Center has changed.This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.
From: Washington State Department Of Health
--- Please respond above this line ---
Reference # R042855-060821. Dear Natalie St John, The Department of Health received a public information request from you on June 08, 2021. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all correspondence, including emails, texts, letters and communications sent via messaging services between Dr. Gary Franklin (or any staff members who work under him and sent or received communications on his behalf) and any of the following:
Dr. Andrew Kolodny
Dr. Jane Ballantyne
Dr. Michael Von Korff
Dr. Rosemary Orr
Dr. Steven Gelfand
Dr. Irfan Dhalla
Dr. Pete Jackson
Dr. David Jurrlink
Dr. Petros Levounis
Dr. Leonard "Len" Paulozzi
Dr. Jon Streltzer
Dr. Art Van Zee
Betts Tully
William/Bill Rummler
Judy Rummler
PROP/Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
SRHF/Steve Rummler Hope Foundation
Steve Rummler Hope Network
This should include all communications in which any of the above mentioned parties is a sender, recipient, or is carbon-copied.
The time frame for this request should be June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2021. If you have deleted earlier documents due to your retention schedule, please provide responsive records for whatever part of that time period exists, and indicate which records are no longer available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. This is part of a journalism project to report on a matter of public safety and interest, so I respectfully request a fee waiver. However, I authorize fees of up to $300. If the cost will exceed that, please call me to discuss before proceeding.
I would be happy to receive responsive documents in installments. Electronic records, such as email attachments are my first choice, but a thumb drive or paper copies would also be acceptable. If I can be of any assistance, please feel welcome to call or email me.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I truly appreciate your assistance.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Natalie St. John” Records identified as responsive to your public records request have been uploaded to the DOH Public Records Center. Your file(s) will be available for 60 days, after which they will be no longer accessible. Since all identified records have been provided to you, this request is considered closed. NOTE: Pop-up Blockers on your web browser will need to be disabled to download files from this site.
Some information within your requested records has been withheld. Please see the Redaction Summary located at the end of each document for a list of redactions that were applied. If any records were withheld in their entirety, please refer to the Exemption Log provided to you.
Under RCW 42.56.520 you may appeal the decision to withhold information contained in the records via a request for review by the Department of Health’s Public Records Officer. The request must be submitted in writing by one of the following methods: 1. Send an email request to PRRAppeals@doh.wa.gov (mailto:prrappeals@doh.wa.gov) 2. Mail your request to: Public Records Officer
Washington State Department of Health
P.O. Box 47890
Olympia, WA 98504-7890 Sincerely,
Administrative Services
Public Records
From: Washington State Department Of Health
Dear Natalie St John:
This message is to notify you that your password to DOH Public Records Center has changed. This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.
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