Medigram, the Society’s electronic newsletter for physicians, features timely news, upcoming events, answers to frequently asked questions and all the information you need to know to make your practice run more efficiently. Topics include legislative updates, legal information, practice management information, government regulations, and much more. Published weekly, Medigram is delivered via email on Thursdays.

If you have a Medigram story idea or would like to offer feedback, please email us or call 866.442.3800.

WisMed PolicyLink goes live; share your policy ideas for member debate
In a major effort to empower more members in shaping Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) policies, the Society has launched WisMed PolicyLink – an online resource available 24/7/365 to members for submitting health care policies the Society should include in its health care advocacy. The new tool will further enhance the Society’s status as a health care leader, offering member physicians a much more accessible and convenient way to promote high quality patient care and support physicians’ ability to practice medicine.

Giving to the Foundation supports communities around the state
Tosha Wetterneck, MD, is rocking her warm heart from supporting the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) on Giving Tuesday and her warm head from winning the drawing for a hand-knit hat for that donation. Let’s warm some more heads and hearts. Give to the Foundation by the end of the year to support access and equity to health and health care across the state and be entered to win a new hat!

New WisMed OnCall focuses on retirement planning
Not sure where to start with retirement planning? There are many considerations for retirement, such as finding health insurance, coordinating investment income, when to start accessing social security benefits, estate planning documents and more.

Don’t pay property taxes yet!
One person in the US holds the key to thousands in tax deductions for you, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, since he’s the fiftieth vote in the Senate. However, gaining his vote may come at a cost to property tax deductions.

WisMed PolicyLink goes live; share your policy ideas for member debate

PolicyLink

In a major effort to empower more members in shaping Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) policies, the Society has launched WisMed PolicyLink – an online resource available 24/7/365 to members for submitting health care policies the Society should include in its health care advocacy. The new tool will further enhance the Society’s status as a health care leader, offering member physicians a much more accessible and convenient way to promote high quality patient care and support physicians’ ability to practice medicine.

The Society’s previous policymaking system required proposals to be acted upon just once per year at an in-person meeting – following a decades-old tradition that also required ideas to be presented in Resolution form, with specific style requirements rooted more in tradition than utility. PolicyLink is a more free-form experience, with the ability to share information about the proposal, why it’s needed and how the new policy’s language should read. Members can also attach background information or other materials that help justify the proposal’s merit.

Once an idea is submitted into PolicyLink, other members can review the proposal and provide reaction. After that comment period, the proposal and feedback will be analyzed by a new Policy Review Committee (PRC), made of members from around the state. The PRC will make a recommendation to the Society’s Board of Directors on whether the proposal should be approved, rejected or amended. Members will be able to vote on whether they think the Board’s decision is correct.

“The strength of the Society lies in its members, and this new tool will allow physicians in every corner of the state to weigh in on Society policies – and at a time convenient for them,” said Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD, who will be the staff point person helping members use the new system. “And while PolicyLink is a much more convenient way for members to participate in setting Society policy, the tool is still new – so we’ll be stress testing it and making improvements along the way.”

Feedback from Society members following recent annual meetings helped spur the change, Grapentine said.

“Over the years we’ve heard troubling feedback following annual meetings that were often bogged down by wordsmithing, first-and second-order amendments and rules of order that left members feeling both confused and even annoyed,” Grapentine said. “PolicyLink is part of the new process that should help physicians feel more empowered instead of turned off. And as a bonus, a future annual meeting can focus more on what energizes physicians: opportunities for education, camaraderie and special programming that unites members of this incredible profession.”

The Society is the latest in a growing list of state medical societies to transition to a more modern and inclusive policymaking process. You must be logged in through your member credentials in order to access PolicyLink. Contact us for assistance with logging in. Contact Mark Grapentine, JD with any questions or suggestions.

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Rogers Behavioral Health

Giving to the Foundation supports communities around the state

Tosh Wetterneck, MD, rocking her hand-knit hat prize for her Foundation donation

Tosha Wetterneck, MD, is rocking her warm heart from supporting the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) on Giving Tuesday and her warm head from winning the drawing for a hand-knit hat for that donation. Let’s warm some more heads and hearts. Give to the Foundation by the end of the year to support access and equity to health and health care across the state and be entered to win a new hat!

By supporting the Foundation this year, you will help support community initiatives across the state. The Foundation asks physicians what the most important issues their patients are facing outside the office and directs their grant funding accordingly. This year it included programs that support access to mental health treatment for a women’s shelter and rapid COVID testing for vulnerable populations. Giving to the Foundation also helps assists physicians of tomorrow with scholarships and summer fellowships. Hopefully this connection helps bring them back to Wisconsin to practice.

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New WisMed OnCall focuses on retirement planning

WisMed OnCall podcast logo

Not sure where to start with retirement planning? There are many considerations for retirement, such as finding health insurance, coordinating investment income, when to start accessing social security benefits, estate planning documents and more.

Mark Ziety, Executive Director of WisMed Financial discusses the six keys to retirement planning in the latest episode of WisMed OnCall, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s podcastVisual learners can watch the webinar recording of Keys to Retirement Success. 

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Don’t pay property taxes yet!

Property Taxes

One person in the US holds the key to thousands in tax deductions for you, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, since he’s the fiftieth vote in the Senate. However, gaining his vote may come at a cost to property tax deductions.

A provision of the Build Back Better Act allows for additional tax deductions for state and local taxes (SALT). SALT is currently capped at $10,000.  Many physicians reach the $10,000 cap with just their Wisconsin income taxes, so paying property taxes does not increase the deduction. But if the cap is raised, paying property taxes could increase your tax deductions. One version of this bill raised SALT starting in 2022 and another made it retroactive for 2021.

As of December 14, 2021, the House version raises SALT to $80,000 and makes it retroactive for 2021. However, the Senate only has 49 votes in favor and Senator Manchin is the holdout. To gain his fiftieth vote, several provisions may need to be changed, including a lower SALT cap.

Whether it’s better to pay your property taxes before December 31, 2021 or after January 1, 2022 will depend on the outcome from the Senate. So, be sure to download the new WisMed mobile app since this is the final Medigram of 2021. A follow up to this story will be posted on the app after the Senate votes.

For personalized help eliminating debt, investing smart and securing retirement, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

WisMed Financial

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®
WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

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