Around the State in 8 Districts lands in District 6

Thanks to your donations to the ongoing Around the State in 8 Districts campaign, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) awarded a grant to Lakeshore Community Health Care, Inc. (LCHC). LCHC provides medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services at health centers in Sheboygan and Manitowoc and was recommended through the Physician County Survey by Donald DeBruyn, MD, a retired Internal Medicine physician member in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. 

LCHC provides medical, behavioral health and dental services

Doctor DeBruyn noted, “Lakeshore Community Health Care has been an essential part of the health care response to COVID – offering testing, vaccines and outreach to low-income and minority populations.” He added, “I see important needs being met and am grateful for the presence and dedication of their staff. I’m pleased to support them and recommend them for support.”

LCHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides dental care at 43 schools in Sheboygan County and 22 schools in Manitowoc County through their mobile outreach program. They have been providing primary medical care and dental care to underinsured and uninsured individuals in northeast Wisconsin since 2013 and expanded that care in response to COVID-19. 

The “PATH Team”: LCHC's behavioral health counselors who visit K to 12 schools

With limited resources, the physicians and public volunteers on the Foundation’s Grant committee have the difficult job of prioritizing among so many worthy organizations. When reviewing the many outstanding programs in District 6 that physicians recommended, LHCH stood out for their expansion of mental health counseling services. They are developing a supervision and mentoring program for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). The Mentoring Mental Health Providers (MMHP) program is part of their response to the combination of a shortage of providers and high and growing mental health needs in their communities. The ratio of population to mental health professionals is 952:1 in Manitowoc County and 652:1 in Sheboygan County, both well above the Wisconsin average of 471:1 and the national average of 380:1. To help build a pipeline of future mental health professionals, LCHC will begin the MMHP supervision and mentoring program for LCSW and LPC trainees.

Each year physicians throughout Wisconsin help the Foundation identify which physician workforce and population health issues are most significant in each county by completing the Physician County Survey. In 2021 physicians also identified more than 230 organizations that are making a difference to address those issues and improve health in Wisconsin. Please take a little time to complete our 2022 Physician County Survey. Your input helps the Foundation and Society set priorities related to better serving physicians and our communities.

Help the Foundation support these important community programs that are increasing health equity and access by contributing to the Around the State in 8 Districts campaign. Through this campaign, every dollar will go directly back to your district to support programs that were championed by your fellow physicians.

If you would like to learn more about LHCH, please visit lakeshorechc.org. For questions or to learn more about the Foundation or our programs, please contact Executive Director, Elizabeth Ringle at elizabeth.ringle@wismed.org. 

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Gov. Evers, DHS award telehealth grants for behavioral health providers

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) awarded more than $2.5 million to 27 providers to create neighborhood telehealth access stations to remove barriers to care for behavioral health services such as mental health and substance use treatment and recovery support. This one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will allow grantees to expand access to these important services by removing location and technology barriers to care. Private behavioral health stations for virtual appointments will be set up in central locations for people who may be struggling to access the services they need. Telehealth station locations will include community centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, libraries, long-term care facilities and schools.

"Every Wisconsinite should have access to quality, affordable health care they need when they need it, and that includes behavioral and mental health services,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants will help ensure more folks can meet with a provider no matter where they live, closing gaps in services and building a behavioral health system that works for everyone at a time when treatment and recovery supports for mental health and substance use are more important than ever.”

Grantees include health care systems, counseling practices and wellness centers that partnered with community-based organizations to increase access to telehealth services. Awardees will begin receiving funding this fall and contracts will last for one year. All of the neighborhood telehealth access points should be operational by no later than summer 2023.

"Through these grants we are promoting trauma-informed and culturally responsive behavioral health services by meeting clients where they are,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “These grants will make it possible for behavioral health providers across Wisconsin to create secure, community-based access points for behavioral health services.”

The grants are part of the American Rescue Plan Act to make behavioral health services more available and accessible across Wisconsin. Last year, Gov. Evers and DHS committed $47 million in additional Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant funding through 2025 to increase community-level prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery supports through partnerships with tribal, county and nonprofit agencies. Earlier this year, Gov. Evers announced that nearly every school district across the state, including more than 450 local education agencies, will be awarded funds through the governor’s $15 million Get Kids Ahead initiative.

Call 211 to learn about community mental health and substance use services in Wisconsin.

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Remember to vote on August 9

Wisconsin’s partisan primary election is coming up quickly. On Tuesday, August 9, your vote will help determine which candidates will be on the general election ballot this November 8.

Our Wisconsin primary includes local races, state legislative races, statewide races and congressional races. Under our state’s system you can only vote in the primary for one party – meaning you can’t vote in both the Republican Governor’s primary and the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Early voting has started. If you have time, vote now. To determine where to vote and what you need to vote, go to myvote.wi.gov and see exactly what your ballot looks like.

If you have any questions or want to support a candidate, contact Heidi Green.

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Reminder - weigh in on proposed WisMed policies by August 1

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) member policy proposals are 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, August 1, 2022.

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 November 18, 2022.

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.

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Dust off your employee handbook

The expansion of working from home over the last few years has increasingly blended our work and home lives. As new policies have been implemented and old policies updated, it’s important to update your employee handbook before your open enrollment.

Have your policies changed or do you have language regarding:

• Working from home
• PPE
• Procedure for testing for illnesses and diseases
• FMLA
• Social media rules
• Confirmation or acknowledgement that employees have read your handbook (sign off page)
• Resignation procedures

There are many things that might have changed for you and your company. Maybe you recently added an HRA but haven’t included it in your employee handbook or your Summary Plan Description (SPD). If you want a second set of eyes on your employee handbook, please contact Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, WisMed Assure Vice President, Employee Benefits.

For additional information regarding employee benefits coverage, contact Chris Noffke at chris.noffke@wismedassure.org or call 608.442.3734.

WisMed Assure is the Wisconsin Medical Society’s insurance agency – profits earned support the mission of the Medical Society.

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WisMed members can save on laptops, car rentals and more through WisMed Perks

Through WisMed Perks, Wisconsin Medical Society members can access back to school deals on laptops, tablets and more from Lenovo. The sale runs from July 18 through August 21, with education PCs as low as $300, supplies up to 70% off site wide and more, while supplies last. Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently.

For assistance, call Lenovo at 1-800-426-7235 (M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET, Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET).

Additionally, WisMed members can save up to 35% off base rates for car rentals through Avis and Budget. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, you can use your Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program to get you where you need to go.

 

Enjoy discounts on base rates, plus enroll in Avis Preferred® or Budget Fastbreak® to receive free perks like:

• Complimentary upgrades.
• Expedited service that helps you skip the line and go straight to your car at most rental locations.*
• Accelerated rewards where you can earn points for every qualifying dollar you spend and redeem them for rental day rewards, additional upgrades and accessories.

Save up to 35% off base rates with Pay Now when making a reservation with your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number A672086. Click here to reserve with Avis.

Save up to 35% off base rates with Pay Now when booking with your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number B079592. Click here to book with Budget.

Additional vendor discounts on a variety of products and services, including digital marketing, are available to our members at WisMed Perks. Click here to learn about other WisMed Member Benefits.

*Subject to vehicle availability and account status. Taxes and fees excluded. Terms apply.

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