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.

State Med Board modifies, approves potential chaperone use language
This week, the State of Wisconsin’s Medical Examining Board (MEB) continued its work promoting the use of chaperones when physicians perform sensitive procedures such as breast, genital or rectal area exams. The MEB modified language discussed at previous meetings, working to create language intended to protect patients from inappropriate touching while also providing physicians various ways to show how misconduct did not occur.

Two minutes to go in the GO PAC GO 4th Quarter!
The 4th quarter of the GO PAC GO push is ending tomorrow. If you haven’t contributed, there is still time.

Society testifies on fentanyl testing strips bill
The Wisconsin Medical Society joined with the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine (WISAM) in supporting state legislation that can protect lives by preventing inadvertent fentanyl overdoses. The legislation, Assembly Bill 619, would decriminalize the possession and use of fentanyl test strips (FTS), which can be easily used to test substances for the presence of the powerful drug.

Milwaukee County physicians eligible for free MEB-approved opioid CME
Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) members practicing in Milwaukee County are eligible for free registration for the highly rated on-demand webinar, Alternatives to Opioids in Treating Acute and Chronic Pain. This limited number of free registrations are available through a collaboration with Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and the Society.

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State Med Board modifies, approves potential chaperone use language

This week, the State of Wisconsin’s Medical Examining Board (MEB) continued its work promoting the use of chaperones when physicians perform sensitive procedures such as breast, genital or rectal area exams. The MEB modified language discussed at previous meetings, working to create language intended to protect patients from inappropriate touching while also providing physicians various ways to show how misconduct did not occur.

A previous version of the administrative rule proposal (see this Medigram story from April 22, 2021) would have created an unprofessional conduct penalty simply for not using a chaperone during these sensitive exams or for failure to document how the patient declined a chaperone even after being adequately counseled. The current version of the potential rule instead triggers the chaperone issue only after a complaint against a physician has been filed under MED 10.03(2)(f) – the section of the Unprofessional Conduct chapter related to inappropriate touching and sexual gratification. Under the new language, the MEB may presume physician misconduct when a complaint is filed, but the physician may rebut that presumption by showing how a chaperone was in the exam room at the time or by providing documentation of how the patient refused to have a chaperone present even after being counseled about the option.

Society President-Elect Wendy Molaska, MD, attended the meeting, raising concerns that she had heard from other physicians about how having chaperones available can be a significant burden to smaller practices, and how female physicians who have been a victim of sexual harassment in the past now have a potential presumption of guilt should a complaint come forward in an area similar to their negative personal history. Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine also asked various questions about the proposed language, some of which resulted in modifications clarifying parents’ ability to be a chaperone when the patient is 12 years old or younger. He also pointed out how for the first time the MEB would be potentially presuming guilt upon receiving a complaint. MEB members responded that they will handle complaints in their totality and that the rule language states that the MEB “may” presume misconduct rather than the MEB being required to presume misconduct in all cases. You can read more about the meeting in this Wisconsin Health News article.

After a lengthy discussion and further tweaks to the language, the MEB unanimously voted to move the new MED 10 language further along in the administrative rule process, meaning that a public hearing on the language could be scheduled as soon as the MEB’s November meeting. The Society’s Board of Directors will discuss the MEB’s proposal at its November meeting. Contact Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Rogers Behavioral Health

Two minutes to go in the GO PAC GO 4th Quarter!

GO PAC GO - QTR 3
Scoreboard

The 4th quarter of the GO PAC GO push is ending tomorrow. If you haven’t contributed, there is still time. Please consider getting off the sidelines to make sure the Society is strongly represented at the Capitol on issues that matter to you and your patients.

Jose Ortiz, MD, from district 3 was the MVP of Q3. Thank you to Dr. Ortiz for keeping your team in the lead! District team 2 isn’t far behind. Teams 5 and 6 are also neck and neck, as well as 7 and 1. Thank you as well to monthly PAC contributors Andrew Campbell, MD (District team 6), and John Hartman, MD (District team 8). Let’s see some competition: you have until midnight tomorrow night to get into the game! The “winning” team will enjoy an in-person political briefing and cocktails with our Government Relations team.

If you have any questions, contact Heidi Green at 608.358.6116 or [email protected]. 

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this effort to boost the WISMedPAC!

$2,500 - $3,000
Donn Dexter, MD, District 3

$2,000 - $2,499
-

$1,500 - $1,999
-

$1,000 - $1,499
Joshua Balts, MD, District 7
Daniel Bennett, MD, District 2
Clyde "Bud" Chumbley, MD, District 5
Dave Hoffman, MD, District 3
Paul Larson, MD, District 6
Don Lee, MD, District 1
George "Chip" Morris, MD, District 4
Jose Ortiz, Jr., MD, District 3
Paul Wertsch, MD, District 2

$500 - $999
Angie Geiger, MD, District 6
Mark Grapentine, JD, District 2
Jerry Halverson, MD, District 2
Cynthia Hart, MD, District 7
Kenneth Merkitch, MD, District 3
Wendy Molaska, MD, District 2

$1 - $499
Alicia Arnold, MD, District 3
John Brennan, III, MD, District 1
Lynn Broderick, MD, District 2
Bradley Burmeister, MD, District 8
Andrew Campbell, MD, District 6
Joel Charles, MD, MPH, District 3
Justin Endo, MD, District 2
Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, MBA, District 2
Robin Goldsmith, MD, District 6
Ethan Handler, MD, District 6
John Hartman, MD, District 8
Malcolm Hatfield, MD, District 1
Stephen Hathway, MD, District 8
Ken Klein, District 1
Susan Martens, District 5
James Meyer, MD, FAAFP, District 7
Mike Miller, MD, District 2
George Monese, MD, District 8
Vinay Nijhawan, MD, District 3
Ani Saryan Kopf, MD, District 4
Jean Schott Wagner, MD, District 6
Alan Schwartzstein, MD, District 2
Chirs Torkelson, MD, District 5
Tyler Rickers, DO, District 2
Tosha Wetterneck, MD, District 2


Thank you to our team captains!

Team 1 – Don Lee, MD, MPH
Team 2 – Dan Bennett, MD, and Paul Wertsch, MD
Team 3 – Donn Dexter, MD
Team 4 – George Morris, MD, FAAN
Team 5 – Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA
Team 6 – Andrew Campbell, MD, Clarence Chou, MD, Sherry Clarke
Team 7 – Cynthia Hart, MD
Team 8 – Ken Pechman, MD, PhD, MMM, Bradley Burmeister, MD, John Hartman, MD

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Society testifies on fentanyl testing strips bill

The Wisconsin Medical Society joined with the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine (WISAM) in supporting state legislation that can protect lives by preventing inadvertent fentanyl overdoses. The legislation, Assembly Bill 619, would decriminalize the possession and use of fentanyl test strips (FTS), which can be easily used to test substances for the presence of the powerful drug. The bipartisan bill is authored by Reps. Jesse James (R-Altoona) Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee).

“Saving lives should never be a partisan issue or be up for debate,” Rep. James said in his testimony as the main author of the legislation.

Society member Ritu Bhatnagar, MD appeared before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and gave testimony
Ritu Bhatnagar, MD, testifies in the State Capitol

WISAM President and Society member Ritu Bhatnagar, MD appeared before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and gave excellent written and verbal testimony describing what she sees in her practice as Medical Director for NewStart, Unity Point Health-Meriter Hospital’s addiction treatment service branch.

“I have taken care of people whose lives have been turned upside-down by having a legal charge related to the possession of these fentanyl test strips,” Dr. Bhatnagar testified. “They have had a very difficult time, then, once they’re in treatment with me, trying to get their lives back together, look for work, try to find anything else with this on their record.

“Everything you’ve heard today about needing to have these (FTS) decriminalized so that people don’t enter the criminal legal system is absolutely essential because of the differential enforcement that’s happening around the state,” Dr. Bhatnagar said.  

The bill is now eligible for a committee vote. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin State Senate as Senate Bill 600. Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Milwaukee County physicians eligible for free MEB-approved opioid CME

Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) members practicing in Milwaukee County are eligible for free registration for the highly rated on-demand webinar, Alternatives to Opioids in Treating Acute and Chronic Pain. This limited number of free registrations are available through a collaboration with Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and the Society.

Presented by Michael McNett, MD, this course meets the MEB’s two-hour continuing medical education opioid prescribing requirement for licensure and is also approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and Maintenance of Certification Part II points for certain specialties.

To register, contact the Society’s Education Department at [email protected]. This free opportunity expires October 31, 2021 – register today! The Society’s full catalogue of CME can be found here.

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