GO PAC GO campaign kicks off to a strong first quarter

The GO PAC GO fundraising campaign kicked off on Monday with an email from the WISMedPAC board encouraging Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) members to get off the bench and get into the game. 

The Society’s political action committee, WISMedPAC, amplifies the physician voice by making political contributions to candidates and leadership committees – this allows for better, friendlier access to decision makers in the Capitol. The Society has a long history of advocating in the State Capitol on behalf of our members. Every legislative session, the Society’s lobbying team works to protect the physician-patient relationship.

You’ve got a week to get into the first quarter of the game. Teams are based on congressional district and your goal is to contribute to help your team win the game! We’ll publish names to honor and thank those who are taking part and helping the Society continue our strong advocacy on behalf of all physicians and their patients. There will be prizes – it’s truly a competition!

To get in the game, please contribute here or contact Heidi Green, 608.358.6116 and she’ll take your contribution.

Thank you to everyone who has gotten off the bench for their teams! First quarter wraps up next Wednesday so make sure you get on the scoreboard!

$1,000 - $1,499
Clyde "Bud" Chumbley, MD, District 5
Paul Larson, MD, District 6
Don Lee, MD, District 1

$500 - $999
Mark Grapentine, JD, District 2
Cynthia Hart, MD, District 7
Dave Hoffman, MD, District 3

$1 - $499
Daniel Bennett, MD, District 2
George "Chip" Morris, MD, District 4
Jean Schott Wagner, MD, District 6

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State Medical Board discusses possible chaperone rule

The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (MEB) had a lengthy discussion at its monthly meeting, September 15, on a potential administrative rule proposal that would require physicians to have a trained chaperone present when examining a patient’s breast, genitals or rectum, or inspecting parts of the body that could be near those areas. Under the potential proposal, a physician who does not have a chaperone present or properly document why the patient declined a chaperone could be found guilty of unprofessional conduct.

Members of the MEB – meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic – discussed how such a requirement would promote a culture designed to prevent inappropriate exams while making it more likely that a third party could weigh in should a patient file a complaint over allegedly inappropriate care. According to members of the MEB, Wisconsin would be the first state to approach these issues in this manner.

The MEB spent its time discussing the first of three sections comprising the draft administrative rule (see the materials discussed here) which focuses on the definition of “chaperone.”  The board discussed which members of the clinic or physician office staff could serve in the role (as well as if parents could be considered chaperones for adolescent patients), if medical students could be chaperones and whether appropriate chaperone training should be approved by the MEB or left to clinics and physician offices to determine. A subgroup of the MEB has been meeting since spring 2021 to discuss the potential for such a rule and was tasked with presenting language; this month’s meeting was the first time the full MEB had a substantive conversation about the issue.

The MEB will continue discussions on the proposal at its October meeting. Should the MEB decide to officially move forward with an administrative rule proposal, the language will eventually be subject to a public hearing.

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

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Call for physician volunteers for telehealth appointments

Physicians with a Wisconsin medical license are invited to volunteer for the telehealth program of Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured. Physician volunteers will work with MCW first- and second-year medical students during telehealth appointments to help them practice their interviewing and presentation skills.

This opportunity assists patients and families who have poor access to health care in Milwaukee while also allowing MCW students to practice their clinical skills early in their medical training.

Primary care and specialty physicians who have retired or are working at any health system are encouraged to volunteer and are asked to commit a minimum of one hour a week or two hours every other week for at least a month. Telehealth appointments occur from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Additional details can be found here and here. Please contact Delaney Cairns, lead student telehealth manager, at dcairns@mcw.edu with questions or if you are interested.

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DSPS notification of physician license renewal, sent this week

It’s time for physician license renewal. This year the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) has moved their notification process online, and all physicians should have received an email earlier this week notifying them that their license is due for renewal. Physicians will need to be certain that their profile contains a valid email address to ensure they receive accurate and timely information from DSPS. 

As a part of the online renewal process, the Medical Examining Board is requiring physicians complete a set of questions relating to fitness to practice. These questions can also be found on form #4570.

The email from DSPS also includes an optional survey. Potential benefits that could result from survey outcomes include:

• CMS Medicare reimbursement bonus payments
• Wisconsin Medicaid reimbursement bonus payments for physicians
• National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment options to retain and recruit medical professionals
• Potential HPSA benefits allowing a clinic to attain physicians using a J1 Visa Waiver fulfilling a 3-year commitment to the employer

Online renewals are due by October 31, 2021.

For assistance in the renewal process, or for other questions please contact dsps@wisconsin.gov.

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Free bias awareness webinar for WisMed members

Wisconsin Medical Society members are invited to a complimentary one-hour webinar Biases in Healthcare: Awareness Can Influence Patient Outcomes, to be presented on September 30 at 7 a.m. by Laurette Salzman, Senior Risk Resource Advisor for ProAssurance.

Subject: Biases in Healthcare: Awareness Can Influence Patient Outcomes
Date: Thursday, September 30
Time: 7:00 a.m. CT
Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)

This webinar will explore how recent events, including COVID-19, highlight the need for health care professionals to examine personal biases that may lead to disparities in the delivery of patient care. Learn how physicians and other health care professionals can identify biases and create a culture of sensitivity and diversity. Closed claims discussions reinforce the importance of practical risk management considerations to mitigate implicit biases affecting patients and families.

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Conflicting investment headlines

Trying to save and make smart investment decisions for your future can be difficult enough. But, if you check investing headlines and see something like those on September 7, you might be a bit confused.

Barclays raises year-end S&P 500 forecast, doesn’t see Fed taper causing sell-off

Morgan Stanley downgrades U.S. stocks: ‘We see a bumpy September-October’

How can you make decisions with this sort of information? Don’t focus on the headlines. Instead, follow time-tested, academically sound, best practices and disciplined investing principals that work.

• Diversify globally
• Time in the market adds returns, timing the market creates losses
• Structure a portfolio along academically proven areas that generate higher expected returns
• Manage expenses, turnover and taxes
• Stay disciplined through market dips and swings
• Rebalance systematically
• Create an investment plan to fit your retirement income requirements and risk tolerance

A good first step is to understand yourself. Learn about your investing personality by taking the investor personality quiz.

For personalized help with your investment and retirement planning, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

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

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