Volunteers needed to help inspire future doctors

Be part of a fun, interactive activity designed to inspire young people to consider careers in medicine by volunteering with the Foundation at the Wisconsin Science Festival October 10-16 in Madison.

The Wisconsin Science Festival, a project of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Morgridge Institute for Research, is a public, statewide celebration of all things science. With nearly 300 event locations across Wisconsin and an estimated 3,000 or more attendees in Madison alone, the festival features creative exhibitions, demonstrations, performances, tours, debates and workshops. Booths emphasize interactivity to inspire young people’s curiosity and imaginations.

Again this year, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is partnering with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s Doctors Ought to Care student group to host an activity on the Madison campus. Physicians and medical students team up to help children of all ages learn about human anatomy by seeing and touching real human organs and by giving them the chance to take their photo in a white coat and envision themselves pursuing a career in medicine or health care.

Volunteers are needed in shifts between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 12 and Saturday Oct. 15 at the Discovery Center on the UW-Madison campus.

If you can share an hour or more of your time or would like more information about this rewarding and professionally energizing volunteer opportunity, reach out to Program Coordinator Jaime Craig at jaime.craig@wismed.org.

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Thank you for your GO PAC GO contributions!

The fun “let’s rally” fifth quarter was worth extending GO PAC GO for a few days. Thank you to Dr. Mark Belknap for his generous contribution. He is the fifth quarter MVP and took District 8 from last place to third place! Way to get off the bench and get in the game, Dr. Belknap!

The funds raised for WISMedPAC and WISMedDIRECT will help our lobbying team attend several events before and after the elections. This allows them to voice physicians’ input on legislation that affects the practice of medicine on so many levels and the care of patients, which is always the priority.

Thank you to everyone who added to their WISMedDIRECT (our conduit) accounts or who contributed to WISMedPAC (our political action committee). Our advocacy team works on your behalf to look out for and shape legislation that affects how YOU practice.

If you’d like to direct your WISMedDIRECT funds to a political campaign this fall, please reach out to Heidi Green at 608.358.6116 or heidi.green@wismed.org.

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Leadership Academy new courses – business-focused CME for physicians

Wisconsin Medical Society Members taking on new leadership roles or responsibilities within their practice or system or transitioning from a patient care role to an administrative role in leadership are invited to join the virtual leadership academy. New courses of Emotional Intelligence and Impression Management cover cornerstones of emotional intelligence, provide tools to assess and improve EQ skills and will help you evaluate aspects of emotional intelligence and executive presence as it applies to leadership roles.

The Wisconsin Medical Society has partnered with Pennsylvania Medical Society to offer this program to help members achieve the foundational leadership skills you need to succeed in your new role. Enroll in these completely virtual mini courses focused on critical business acumen to set yourself up to be an effective leader and earn up to 14 credits of CME.

Courses include Ethical Decision Making, Health Care Finance 101, Project Management for Physicians, Strategic Thinking, and more.

This exclusive, member-only program has limited space available. Register today by emailing membership@wismed.org or calling 866.442.3800.

*The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. PAMED designates these enduring materials for a maximum of 14 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in these activities.

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September 30 deadline for feedback on WisMed Board decisions on policy proposals

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members can weigh in on the recent action of the WisMed Board of Directors (Board) on four policy proposals through Friday, September 30. WisMed members can register their support, opposition and/or comments on those Board actions via PolicyLink.

To participate in the comment period:

1. Visit policylink.wismed.org
2. Login with your WisMed username and password*
3. Click “Comment on Proposal” in the top menu
4. Select “Vote on Board Action”
5. Click on a blue proposal title – you will see the original proposal, the Policy Review Committee’s recommendation and the Board action
6. When ready, click on agree, disagree, or neutral in regards to the Board's action and submit any comments if desired in the text box
7. Click “Submit Comment” button at the bottom of the page

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.

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

*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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Confused about Fall COVID-19 boosters? You’re not alone

Guest article by COVID-19 Task Force Chair David Letzer, DO

At the last Wisconsin Medical Society COVID-19 Task Force meeting it quickly became clear questions remain surrounding the new fall bivalent booster. What is the best timing for a booster? What if I recently had COVID? How long should I wait between boosters? Do I really need the booster?

I am asked these questions almost daily by patients and all levels of health care staff. I am sure most physicians are similarly trying to navigate such questions with their patients.

Like so many COVID-19 issues, the bivalent questions don’t necessarily have clear answers. The Task Force members found this post useful from epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina, MPH, PhD, the director of population health analytics at the Meadow Mental Health Policy Institute. Her newsletter "Your Local Epidemiologist" is a good resource for the latest COVID-19 news and studies, with helpful links for deeper dives.

The Task Force’s discussion over how best to communicate complex information to patients eventually landed on a consistent theme ever since COVID-19 vaccines became available. The greatest protection for patients – and especially against serious disease – remains being vaccinated as per recent guidelines. Even length of illness and long COVID appear reduced especially with booster doses.

The WisMed COVID-19 Task Force continues its work in trying to help physicians and their patients during this pandemic. If you have questions or want more information about the Task Force, please reach out to WisMed’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD.

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Workers' compensation rate changes and good news for health care professionals

Starting October 1, Workers’ Compensation rates in Wisconsin will drop for the seventh year in a row. Unlike many other states, Work Comp rates in Wisconsin are set by the state and are the same for every insurance carrier. The decrease is 8.47% over all employee classifications. Physician rates are relatively low, though higher when hospital employees, but still much lower than hospital employees other than professional employees.  

The following chart shows the current and new rates for the listed class codes (rates are per $100 of payroll):

Slight changes were also made to minimum premiums for experience rating, increases in annual remuneration to calculate premiums for sole proprietors and partners and increases in the maximum remuneration for executive officers.

Another difference in how Workers’ Compensation is governed in Wisconsin is there is not a set fee schedule for medical services provided. The Wisconsin Medical Society has long advocated to keep Wisconsin from adopting a Work Comp fee schedule.

Mark Grapentine, Wisconsin Medical Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer and a medical liaison to the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council, told Wisconsin Health News that the current system gets workers back on the job faster and more satisfied with their health care than in other states.

“The news of yet another significant decrease in rates is good news across the board,” he said.

He called the state’s current workers’ compensation system a “national model” that provides injured workers easy access to high quality care. Though he noted that Wisconsin can do better when it comes to its workplace injury rate, and getting that below the national average would be a win-win for everyone.

If you have questions about Workers’ Compensation coverage rates and dividend programs for your practice, please contact Brian Fowler, WisMed Assure Account Director, at brian.fowler@wismedassure.org or 608.442.3718.

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

Originally posted in The Antidote, August 19, 2022

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Virtual Scientific Abstract Competition call for entries

The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) Wisconsin Chapter encourages all Internal Medicine (IM), Family Medicine, IM-Pediatrics and Pediatrics Residents, Fellows and Medical Students to participate in the chapter's virtual Scientific Abstract Competition. The top scoring resident/ fellow will receive a complimentary registration and a $500 travel stipend to attend SHM's annual conference, Converge, March 26-29, 2023 in Austin, TX. Deadline for submissions is Monday, October 3. For more information and guidelines for submission, click here.

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