Action needed: Congress can prevent a 4.5% Medicare cut for physician care

Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation needs to hear from Wisconsin physicians that a looming 4.5 percent cut to physician Medicare payments scheduled for January 1, 2023 needs to be averted. Failure to do so during this “lame duck” session would imperil patient access to care at a time when physician offices and clinics are still reeling from costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and historic increases in inflation.

Physicians are the only health care providers who do not have an automatic inflation-based annual increase in reimbursements. This has led to physician Medicare rates falling 21 percent from 2001 to 2021, when adjusted for inflation – and the 2022 inflation rate will only increase that disparity. Congress needs to both avert the impending reimbursement cut and update the Medicare physician payment system overall to keep costs stable for physicians and patients alike.

The American Medical Association’s Physicians Grassroots Network has created an excellent platform to help you contact your members of Congress. Click here to help send the message: don’t cut physician Medicare payments, and help patients get the care they deserve!

Additionally, the Wisconsin Medical Society signed on to a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership in support of expeditious legislative action to stop the impending 4.5% cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Conversion Factor.

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD with any questions.

Back to top

WisMed, AMA oppose courts compelling physicians to provide substandard care

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have joined forces in filing an amicus brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on a pending case that has the potential to significantly interfere with physician decision-making in treating patients.

The case, Gahl v. Aurora Health Care, involves a state circuit court issuing an order that compelled a Wisconsin hospital to provide ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient, despite copious studies concluding that the drug is ineffective in fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While a state court of appeals reversed that decision, the state supreme court accepted the case following further appeal. The judiciary uses these “friend of the court” briefs to be better informed about substantive issues related to any court case. The main question before the supreme court in Gahl: Does a circuit court have the legal authority to issue an injunction compelling a hospital to administer treatment that, in the professional judgment of its staff, fell below the standard of care, or compel the hospital to credential an unaffiliated medical provider to administer the treatment?

The WisMed/AMA brief highlights how compelled treatments could place physicians in the “perilous dilemma” of being forced to provide substandard care, and therefore becoming exposed to possible administrative sanctions for “unprofessional conduct” including license revocation, as well as the prospect of a civil lawsuit. The brief notes that the hospital and its physicians were not negligent in refusing to provide ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and even the drug’s manufacturer (Merck) agree that the overwhelming number of studies show that ivermectin is not effective in treating or preventing COVID-19.

Oral arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court are scheduled for January 17, 2023. A decision is expected later in the spring of that year.

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

Back to top

Double the impact with matching gifts to the Foundation

“This scholarship will take away some of the financial stress that comes with attending medical school and allow me to truly focus on my academics, community service and leadership roles.

I am very passionate in working with underserved communities to increase disease prevention and to improve health outcomes.”

British Fields, Future Superhero of Medicine Scholarship Recipient

Thanks to the dedication of physicians and the financial support of donors like you, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) is able to invest directly back into our state by providing financial support to students, medical research and community health programs.

Your year-end gift helps advance the health of Wisconsin by supporting medical students like British and community programs to increase health equity and access in Wisconsin. Check out the Impact Map to hear from others who benefited from your generosity this year!

Now is the time to double your impact!
From now until the end of the year, Foundation and Wisconsin Medical Society Board members will match donations to the Foundation up to $10,000. Give today to double your impact!

To help the Foundation sustain change throughout the year, please consider joining our Brighter Future Club with a monthly gift of any amount.

You can also give by mail by sending a check payable to Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation to PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701-1109. If you prefer to give by phone, give us a call at 608.442.3722. Contact Mikaela Powers for additional information. The Foundation can facilitate donations from donor-advised funds and IRA required minimum distributions and in the form of stocks, bonds or other investments. Contributions for the 2022 tax year must be postmarked or completed online by December 31.

Back to top

WisMed 30-minute legal consultation member benefit

To support the needs of our members, the Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) engaged Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C. (Reinhart) to provide legal consultations to our members. Reinhart is WisMed’s general corporate counsel, and the consultation is intended to assist members with information on legal issues.

Members will not be charged for a consultation up to 30 minutes, which is a $300 value for WisMed members. Reinhart's WisMed team will advise you if your specific issue is beyond the scope of the legal consultation provided as a WisMed member benefit. If additional consultation or research is necessary, you can engage an independent consultation with Reinhart or a law firm of your choice. Participating in the consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney with whom you communicate.

Please contact Jim Lorence with any questions regarding the Wisconsin Medical Society 30-Minute Legal Consultation member benefit or to submit a question regarding which you would like to have a legal consultation. 

Back to top

Reminder: weigh in on new WisMed policy proposals by December 12

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members have submitted four new policy proposals which are now posted on PolicyLink* and are open for members to register support, opposition and/or comments. The comment period for this round of policy proposals will be open through Monday, December 12, 2022.

The proposals include:

• Addressing the Black Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis in Wisconsin
• Closing Wisconsin Firearm Loopholes and Expanding Community Safety Measures
• Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Reproductive Health Care
• Increasing Access to Gender Affirming Care in Wisconsin

To participate in WisMed policymaking:

1. Visit policylink.wismed.org
2. Login with your WisMed username and password*
3. Click “Comment on Proposal” from the menu at the top of the page
4. Select “Comment Period 1”
5. Click on a blue proposal title
6. When ready, click on support, oppose or suggest amendments and submit any comments in the text box below
7. Click “Submit Comment” button at the bottom of the page

After the close of this comment period, proposed policies will move to the Policy Review Committee (PRC) which will review each proposal and member comments to help inform their recommendation to the WisMed Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD will decide whether to adopt, not adopt or make changes to the proposal.   

Have a policy that you want to submit for consideration?
While in PolicyLink click on “Submit Proposal” (in the menu bar at the top of the page) and enter your proposed policy. Policies submitted during this period will fall into the next submission funnel to be posted on March 24, 2023.

For questions about PolicyLink or WisMed’s policymaking process, contact Mark Grapentine.

*PolicyLink requires your WisMed username and password. Click here to retrieve your username or password, or call 866.442.3800 or email membership@wismed.org for assistance.

Back to top

Celebrate your colleagues – nominate a 2023 Physician Citizen of the Year

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) is accepting nominations for its 2023 Physician Citizen of the Year Award. First established by WisMed in 1982, the award recognizes and encourages Wisconsin physicians who volunteer their time and talents through civic and cultural activities—helping to improve the health and well-being of their communities.

Please nominate a friend, colleague or personal physician for this award. Click here to complete the nomination form. The nomination deadline is December 31, 2022.

Previous Physician Citizen of the Year recipients include Michelle Clark-Frosting, MD of Alma Center (2021); Jose Ortiz, MD of Eau Claire (2020); Kenneth Gold, MD of Beloit (2019); Gloria Halverson, MD of Milwaukee (2018); Paul Durbin, MD of Racine and Tim Westlake, MD of Oconomowoc (2017); Michael Ostrov, MD, MS of Madison (2016); Steven Manson, MD of La Crosse (2015); and Gordon Haugan, MD of Green Bay.

If you would like to make a positive impact with the Wisconsin Medical Society, consider applying for a leadership position, or encourage your colleagues to apply. WisMed is accepting applications for President-elect, AMA Delegate and AMA Alternate Delegate. Click here to learn more. 

For more information, contact Stephanie Taylor.

Back to top

Digital marketing discount for WisMed members

Wisconsin Medical Society members can access an exclusive discount to produce a digital marketing or TV broadcast campaign with WMSN Fox 47 News. Digital marketing (commercials on streaming services) is a fraction of the cost of traditional TV commercials.

Additionally, this discount includes creative design and bilingual services. There are no production fees on the commercial, the ads can be targeted to key market segments and the campaign results can be tracked.

Learn more about this great opportunity or contact Chris Lezotte at clezotte@sbgtv.com or 608.662.5019.

Back to top

Welcome new insurance staff

WisMed Assure, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s insurance agency, is pleased to welcome Lisa Koerner and Mary Krueger to the team!

Lisa Koerner
Lisa started her career in life and health insurance in 2007 after retiring from the restaurant industry. She lives in De Pere with her husband Doug and her cat Peanut.  Lisa has 15 years of experience helping families with life insurance, annuities and disability.

After losing her father when she was just 4 years old, Lisa quickly learned the importance of life insurance.  This is what drives her passion to help people take care of their family in the event that they are not able to. Lisa, her sister, and her brother were raised on a farm in Luxemburg, Wisconsin with her 4 cousins by her aunt and uncle.  They taught Lisa the value of hard work and responsibility.

Lisa enjoys traveling and spending time with her son. In her free time, she makes crafts and jewelry and plays with her cat Peanut.

Please reach out to Lisa, 608.665.9442, to welcome her or for assistance with your disability coverage, life insurance or long-term care planning.

Mary Krueger
The Eau Claire area has been home for Mary, growing up in Mondovi with her 5 siblings. Her 40+ years in the insurance industry has fostered the pleasure of making families feel secure and educated in their health, life and disability insurance choices. Along with a vast insurance knowledge, Mary is a Certified Estate Planner® with NICEP in good standing.

Her children, grandchildren, friends and family make up the majority of her free time with traveling to see each of them. An occasional antique or Amish store is always enjoyed.

Please reach out to Mary, 608.509.9353, to welcome her or for assistance with your Medicare choices, disability coverage, life insurance, long-term care or legacy planning.

Back to top

ACGME opportunities

The American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Medical Education is currently soliciting candidates for AMA nomination opportunities for the following Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Review Committees:

• Colon and rectal surgery
• Neurological surgery
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Surgery

The deadline for applications for these opportunities is Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Position descriptions and applications for each opportunity can be found at AMA Medical Education Leadership Opportunities. Please contact Mary Grandau, Program Administrator, AMA Council on Medical Education, at mary.grandau@ama-assn.org with any questions. 

Back to top