Society weighs in on Assembly GOP COVID Response Bill

Signaling the importance of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin State Assembly Republicans and Democrats each unveiled their own COVID-19 response bills on Inauguration Day, January 4. With Republicans in control of that legislative house, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) introduced Assembly Bill 1 Monday afternoon, with a committee hearing and vote taking place the next day.

The 63-page omnibus bill hits a wide variety of areas, from schools to unemployment programs to health care workforce and funding. The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) highlighted both the positive and concerning portions of the bill in this testimony, which was delivered electronically to the Assembly Committee on Health. Protection from COVID-19 exposure civil litigation, ensuring the state’s SeniorCare program covers COVID-19 vaccinations and preventing patients from facing copays or coinsurance for vaccinations garnered the Society’s support. Provisions limiting local public health and state health department powers during communicable disease outbreaks and interfering with employers’ ability to protect employees and customers from SARS-CoV-2 were not supported.

The Assembly Health Committee approved the bill Tuesday afternoon on an 11-5 party-line vote. The full State Assembly convened this afternoon, amending the bill to place stricter limits on public health and school board powers, then passing the bill on a similarly partisan 56-34 vote. The bill now heads to the State Senate, where the bill’s fate in that house is unclear. Any bill passing both houses must then survive Governor Tony Evers’ veto scrutiny.

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Society opposes VA rule allowing care without physician supervision

The Wisconsin Medical Society joined with dozens of other state- and specialty-based health care organizations on a letter opposing a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proposed rule that would allow virtually all non-physician providers (NPP) to practice without the clinical supervision of a physician. The proposal would trump state scope of practice laws and regulations.

“NPPs are an integral part of physician-led health care teams,” the letter reads. “However, NPPs cannot substitute for physicians especially when it comes to diagnosing complex medical conditions, developing comprehensive treatment plans, ensuring that procedures are properly performed, and managing highly involved and complicated patient cases. Nowhere is this more important than at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which delivers multifaceted medical care to veterans, including those with traumatic brain injuries and other serious medical and mental health issues. As such, our nation’s veterans deserve high quality health care that is overseen by physicians.”

The letter was signed by more than 100 organizations and delivered to the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs today. Contact Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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You’re a member! Now what? Exploring WisMed Assure

Explore the benefits of Wisconsin Medical Society membership by joining the WisMed team for an overview of WisMed Assure, the only Wisconsin-based insurance firm exclusively serving the health care community. Tune in on Wednesday, January 13 at 12 p.m. and learn how they can help you! Register today!

Designed for the busy schedules of physicians, these 15-minute webinars will occur on the second Wednesday of the month, 12 - 12:15 p.m. Whether you're a brand-new member or have been involved for years, you can learn more about the latest member benefits designed specifically for you!

You’re a member! Now what? 
January 13 – Exploring benefits available through WisMed Assure
February 10 – Become an active advocate
March 10 – Take hold of your financial future
April 14 – Member benefits 101

Register once to be signed up for all four sessions. Contact Jess Bourin-Schreiter with any questions.

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Help shape Medical Society policies in 2021

With the Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) evolving its policymaking process to a year-round schedule, the Society is seeking a special group of members to help review policy proposals that are submitted for discussion and eventual action by the Board of Directors. This group will include Society members from across the state to ensure widespread representation. The function is similar to the role Reference Committees had in the former House of Delegates structure: listening to testimony on policy proposals and making recommendations for final action to the ultimate deciding body.

The committee will include members from all eight Society districts and the young physician, resident physician and medical student sections. They will meet as needed leading up to each Society Board of Directors meeting. If you are interested in serving on this policy-reviewing committee, please fill out this form.

For more information, contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD.

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Physician Wellness Advisory Committee moving forward

The Physician Wellness Advisory Committee held its first meeting in December. The purpose of this committee is to design and establish the framework and operability of a Physician Wellness Program to offer help and respite when needed for the physicians of Wisconsin. The intent is to initiate the program in a short period of time and provide the framework for it to grow and be more robust in the future. Special thanks to Mary Jo Capodice, DO, MPH, Jacqueline Landess, MD, Erica Larson, DO, and Michael Miller, MD, for giving their time and providing recommendations as the Wisconsin Medical Society begins this crucial journey towards providing this valuable service to the physicians of Wisconsin.

The committee is currently reviewing options that can be provided in the immediate future. A model that has been adopted in multiple states is being strongly considered. This proposed model is similar to an Employee Assistance Program, where a limited number of confidential counseling/coaching services are provided without the need to go through one’s employer or health insurance. The option to pilot the program in specific counties is also under consideration. 

Updates on the Committee’s progress will continue to be shared. Please reach out to Jim Lorence with any questions or comments. 

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Minnesota Medical Association physician well-being conference Jan. 28

The Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) 5^th annual physician well-being conference will be held virtually on January 28, 2021. As a promotional sponsor for this event, Wisconsin Medical Society members can access this conference at the discounted MMA member price of $195 with the code JOYMEDPARTNER.

Bryan Sexton, PhD, an associate professor at Duke University and director of the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety & Quality will kick off the conference with his keynote presentation Bite Size Coping During Times of Uncertainty.

For additional information including a full agenda and registration, click here.

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Part 2 of COVID Relief Bill

As expected, the COVID Relief Bill was signed into law just before the end of 2020. The $900 billion bill was embedded in the much larger Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Here are some key provisions applicable to Wisconsin families and health care:

• $600 base stimulus check for each taxpayer and each child they can claim a child tax credit. The amount is phased out by $5 for every $100 that adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds an applicable threshold. The AGI threshold is $75,000 for single, $150,000 for joint and $112,500 for head of household filers. AGI is based on the lesser of your 2019 or 2020 tax return. If your 2020 AGI is lower, you’ll receive a tax credit on your 2020 tax return equal to the stimulus difference you should have received.
• The paycheck protection program (PPP) is back and enhanced. Originally, expenses paid with PPP loans were not deductible business expenses. This has been fixed. Expenses paid by the original PPP or by the new PPP loans (PPP2), are deductible business expenses, even if the loan is forgiven. Applying for PPP2 loans has more stringent qualifications than the original. Notably, the business must have experienced a drop in revenue of more than 25% in any quarter in 2020 as compared to the same quarter in 2019. However, businesses that haven’t utilized the original PPP can still apply under the original loan standards before applying for PPP2. Finally, for both PPP and PPP2, there are four additional categories of permitted expenditures: covered operating expenditures, covered property damage costs, covered supplier costs and covered worker protection expenditures (which includes expenses associated with sanitation, social distancing or any other worker or customer safety requirement related to COVID-19). This means PPE is an eligible expenditure which could be paid by a forgivable PPP loan.
• The employee retention credit is expanded and extended. First, health care expenses are now eligible to be treated as wages. Next, small employers are now defined as having up to 500 employees. The credit is changed from $10,000 per employee per year to $10,000 per employee per quarter. The credit rate is increased from 50% to 70%. In other words, an employee paid $10,000 quarterly would generate a refundable $7,000 tax credit for the employer. Finally, qualifying for the credit is now easier with a year-over-year quarterly revenue reduction of 20% instead of the original 50%.
• Unemployment benefits are extended another 11 weeks.
• The medical expense itemized deduction AGI hurdle is permanently reduced to 7.5% for everyone. Previously, it was 10% of AGI for some taxpayers.
• The Tuition and Related Expenses tax deduction is eliminated for 2021 and beyond. However, the Lifetime Learning Credit income limits are increased to match the American Opportunity Tax Credit income limit. Depending on your particular tax situation, this may provide additional tax relief.
• In 2020, an above the line $300 deduction for charitable gifts applied to single and joint tax filers. This provision is extended through 2021 and the marriage penalty is removed. Joint tax filers can claim a $600 deduction this year while they could only claim $300 in 2020.
• Certain business meal expenses are deductible at 100% for 2021-2022 to encourage spending at restaurants. Previously this limit was 50%.
• Employer payments of student loans is extended through 2025. An employer can provide up to $5,250 of annual tax-free education assistance to pay the principal or interest on an employee’s student debt. In contrast to a $5,250 raise, a $5,250 payment on an education loan does not incur employment taxes and the payment is tax free to the employee. Note: for business owners looking to help themselves or their dependents, no more than 5% of the total paid for education assistance can be used by those owning more than 5% of the company.
• Flexible spending account balances can be rolled to 2021 and 2022. This includes health FSA and dependent care FSA. However, each employer plan will need to opt into this provision.

There are a couple of notable provisions not included in the final legislation.

• Required minimum distributions for those age 72 or older were waived in 2020. This was not extended for 2021.
• Student loan payments and interest were suspended through January 31, 2021 this past August. This also was not extended.

This is a very brief summary of a more than 5,000 page piece of legislation. Please seek guidance from your professional advisors for additional details and how this impacts you specifically.

Please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® at 608.442.3750 with any questions. 

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

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