Amended CARES Act passes both Senate and Assembly Committees

Testifying from L to R: Eric Elliot, WAPA Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee Chair; Julie Doyle, WAPA President; Peter Welch, Society COO on the collaborative amendment to the CARES Act

The substitute amendment of the CARES Act passed both the Senate and Assembly committees this week and will now head to floors of both houses for a vote. The bill deals with the working relationship between physicians and physician assistants. It was introduced to the legislature with significant bipartisan support as a method to address the current shortage of physicians and other health care providers in Wisconsin, especially in rural areas. Many of the original provisions in the bill would have moved physician assistants to a form of collaboration with little physician oversight. Passage of the bill in its original form appeared very likely due to wide bipartisan support and the backing of both the Wisconsin Association of Physician Assistants (WAPA) and the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA).

Over the past several weeks the Wisconsin Medical Society has worked diligently along with several specialty physician associations and WAPA to preserve appropriate physician oversight of physician assistants. Compromise was reached with WAPA, WHA and the bill authors. A summary of our accomplishments is detailed in this memo.

Society leadership will continue to encourage legislators to assure the balance between access to care and the quality of the care provided. Please consider getting more involved with our advocacy efforts to ensure that your voice is heard. 

For more information about how to get involved in advocacy at the Society, please reach out to Anne Hauer, our Member Engagement Coordinator. 

For questions about the CARES Act, please contact Peter Welch.

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Society end-of-session sprint

The 2019-2020 legislative session is drawing to a close in the coming weeks with the Assembly expected to adjourn after its February 20 floor period and the Senate expected to adjourn in March. The Society is tracking the following priority issues.

CARES Act AB 575/SB 515
The CARES Act has been the priority of the Society as this session comes to a close. The Society collaborated with numerous physician specialty organizations to reach a compromise with the bill authors, physician assistants and the hospitals on a substitute amendment that protects many aspects of physician oversight of physician assistants. The substitute amendment passed both the Senate and Assembly committees this week and will now head to floors of both houses for a vote. The Assembly is planning to close out their session by the end of next week and Society staff will actively be monitoring this issue.

Complementary and Alternative Health Care (CAHC) Practitioners AB 546/SB 492
The CAHC bill is receiving a vote in the Assembly Health Committee on Thursday, February 13. The Senate version of the bill has not yet received a vote and at this point in time it is unclear if it too will receive a vote. If the Assembly committee decides to vote the bill out of committee it moves to the full Assembly for a floor vote.

Direct Primary Care AB 26/SB 28
The direct primary care (DPC) bill would exempt DPC agreements from insurance laws, effectively clarifying the DPC practices in state law, which the Society supports. The bill has passed through the Assembly and is waiting to be scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate.

HOPE Bills
The HOPE bills have made it through the Assembly and are waiting to be scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate where they are expected to pass—at which point they will head to Governor Evers to be signed. Historically, these have been very bipartisan bills and it is expected that they will become law.

Updates to Student Immunizations (DHS 144)
The Department of Health Services (DHS) proposed a rule update in July of 2019 that would update the state’s student immunization regulations to reflect recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Society testified in support of these changes at the July hearing at DHS, and Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, served on the state committee that updated the rule. Under Wisconsin’s regulatory review processes, regulatory updates can receive a hearing before committees of jurisdiction. To this effect, the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics will be holding a hearing on the rule updates on March 3. If you would like to testify in support of these rule changes, please reach out to Society staff.

If you have any questions or want to know how to get involved, please contact HJ Waukau.

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Help your patients transition from adolescence through young adulthood

Don’t miss two great days of networking, CME and emerging trends in preadult health care. Navigating the Transition Zone: from adolescence through young adulthood,* April 17-18 in Madison, will focus on mental and behavioral health, sexual health, adolescent lifestyles and complex diseases.

Saturday afternoon will feature these presentations about complex diseases: 

• The Transition to Adulthood for Patients with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities, Karin Goodfriend, MD, MPT
• Patched but not Cured: Transitioning to Adulthood in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease, Scott Cohen, MD
• A Bridge to Somewhere: The Importance of Establishing Long-term Care for Pediatric and AYA Cancer Survivors, Rachel Phelan, MD, MPH
• Managing Athletes with Chronic Medical Conditions, Craig Young, MD

Developed in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, this conference offers something for the whole health care team!

And since you’ll already be in town, don’t miss Raising Hope: fostering a healthy tomorrow, the Foundation’s Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction Friday night or the House of Delegates on Sunday!

*This live activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM.
Approved for 10.75 AAFP Prescribed credits.

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Join a reference committee!

Society staff is pulling together a list of members to participate on the reference committees for this year's House of Delegates. Reference committees are the first step in crafting new Society policy—and an excellent opportunity to engage in the initiatives of the Society. Reference committees are intended to reflect the diversity of the medical profession while providing initial recommendations for the House of Delegates for each resolution, board report and policy review before the committee.

If you haven't participated on a reference committee before and are interested in helping determine the Society's stances on issues important to physicians, this is an excellent opportunity for you. You’re also welcome to participate again if you have before.

The reference committees are scheduled to take place in Madison on March 28 and the House of Delegates on April 19. We are looking to fill spots on our two reference committees, Reference Committee A: Health Insurance Coverage and Access; and Reference Committee B/C: Quality and Clinical Outcomes/Organization and Finances.

Please reach out to HJ Waukau if you are interested in serving on a reference committee.

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Foster a healthy tomorrow at Foundation Dinner

Enjoy an evening with colleagues and friends, help celebrate physician and medical student award recipients and support the work of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation at this year’s Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction on April 17 in Madison.

Attendees will hear from guest speaker Lisa Zetley, MD, FAAP, and learn what physicians and the community can do to rally around and improve long-term health outcomes for the nearly 5,000 children removed from their homes each year in Wisconsin—many of whom are the innocent victims of the opioid crisis.

Sri Vasudevan, MD, will be recognized at the Foundation Dinner

A few physician and student awards will be presented during the evening including special recognition for Sri Vasudevan, MD, for establishing a scholarship fund to assist female medical students in honor of his mother and spouse.

Event details are as follows:

What: Raising Hope: Fostering a healthy tomorrow
The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction

When: April 17, 2020
5 p.m. Silent Auction, 6:30 p.m. Dinner, 7:30 p.m. Program

Where: Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison

Purchase tickets online ($130 each) or sponsor a table. Standard sponsorship options are available online or call Eileen Wilson at 608.442.3722 to discuss customized options.

Proceeds will support programs that improve health and help maintain a strong and diverse physician workforce. A portion of proceeds will also support a special project to provide immediate needs for children removed from the home. Be a part of this important work by reserving your spot today!

Plan to spend your weekend with the Society – Navigating the Transition Zone: from adolescence through young adulthood, April 17-18 will explore emerging health care trends within the transition zone of adolescence to young adulthood and the House of Delegates is on April 19.

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