WisMed leaders advocate for patients, physicians on Capitol Hill

A team of Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) physicians and staff visited Washington, D.C. this week as part of the American Medical Association’s National Advocacy Conference. The group urged Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation to support smart health care policies such as ensuring patients have access to physician-led care, supporting increases to the number of Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education residency slots and reversing an alarming decrease in Medicare funding for physician services.

“It’s important that our Congressional offices hear directly from Wisconsin physicians about what we’re experiencing on the ground while taking care of patients,” said WisMed Board of Directors Chair Jerry Halverson, MD. “Physicians are proud to always have patients as our top priority – and you can tell during our visits that our elected officials appreciate that.

“Nobody understands what’s happening in health care quite like physicians do, and we’re glad that access to high quality health care is really a nonpartisan issue,” Dr. Halverson said. “That said, there’s important work that needs to be done to support physicians and our patients. We all must make sure that the folks we elect to these positions are listening and acting on what’s needed.”

The issues discussed in Washington, D.C. also resonate with WisMed priorities at the state level, including combating needless prior authorization requirements, recognizing the need for programs supporting physician wellness and ensuring our state maintains a workplace environment conducive to a long, rewarding medical career. (See this January 12, 2023 Medigram story for more on WisMed’s 2023-24 state legislative priorities.)

“Our meetings in all Congressional offices went great and we shared our messages as patient advocates,” said WisMed President-elect Don Lee, MD. “All WisMed members should utilize our advocacy resources as a way to help our federal and state elected officials know what’s important for good health care.” 

Contact WisMed’s Heidi Green to learn more about how you can get involved in direct advocacy with your elected representatives in Madison and Washington.

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Gov. Evers’s budget announcement weighs in on independent nursing issue

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers delivered his budget address to a joint session of the state legislature Wednesday evening (February 15), kicking off what will likely be at least five months of hearings, debates, budget bill passage and then a slew of partial vetoes before the two-year spending plan takes effect. The biennial budget is arguably the most important piece of legislation in the two-year cycle, with funding for big-ticket items like Medicaid, K-12 schools, transportation funding and the state’s corrections and justice system. All told, Gov. Evers is proposing $103.8 billion in spending from July 2023 through June 2025. This includes revenues from state taxes, federal funding and various other fees.

While a budget bill is not surprisingly focused on fiscal issues, Wisconsin governors have historically included purely policy items as part of budget proposals. But once the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau analyzes the proposal and identifies provisions that are predominantly non-fiscal in nature, the state legislature usually removes those provisions from further consideration. That said, one item in the Governor’s proposal is of particular interest, as he laid out what would ostensibly be a plan acceptable to him that would allow for certain advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently. Gov. Evers vetoed legislation in this area last session, citing that the legislation “[did] not address some of the issues raised by parties in the medical profession that went unremedied during the legislative process.” The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) and numerous physician specialty societies lauded the action.

While the Governor rightly rejected that legislation, he has consistently joined with most of the legislature in signaling that some kind of structure allowing independent nursing is acceptable. The Governor’s proposed path toward a compromise touches on important areas physician groups previously highlighted as problem areas in last session’s legislation. The Governor’s proposal in this area:

• Requires a nurse to have two years of “real world” team-based care experience before getting an advanced nursing certification, then two more years of experience in team-based care working with a physician before being able to apply with the nursing board to practice truly independently.
• Would not allow APRNs to independently practice pain medicine – instead, they would need to work in collaboration with a physician who specializes in pain medicine. There is an exception in this area if the independent APRN works in a hospital or a hospital-associated clinic.
• Includes truth in advertising/title protection, ensuring that only those with a medical degree may use physician-oriented specialty terms, such as “anesthesiologist,” “psychiatrist,” etc.
• Includes language requiring hospitals that provide emergency services to have at least one emergency physician on-site. This issue has been getting more attention nationally as hospitals have moved toward having fewer physicians immediately available in emergency departments, as this recent Kaiser Health News article describes.

The Governor’s proposal also adds independent nurses who are not employed by a health system or hospital into those entities covered by the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF). This was not a provision physicians advocated for last session, and questions abound as to how adding independent nurses into the IPFCF might affect premiums and the overall health of IPFCF assets.

The budget bill was officially introduced in the state legislature as companion Assembly and Senate bills. In a press conference immediately following the Governor’s budget address, legislative Republicans announced that their budget will be built from “base” – meaning that they will start from the spending levels as passed in the previous session when crafting a budget rather than starting from the Governor’s proposal. The powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will hold public hearings around the state later this winter, followed by multiple voting sessions on each state agency. Once the budget passes out of JFC, both the State Assembly and State Senate must approve the final budget. The Governor can then veto the budget in full or make as many “line-item” vetoes as he deems necessary. WisMed will continue to analyze the 1,815 page bill and advocate in the legislature for a state budget that enhances patient care by supporting physicians’ ability to practice effective, efficient medicine.

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

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Foundation honors Superhero of Medicine Karen Watson, MD

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to honor Karen Watson, MD, FACOG, with the Superhero of Medicine Award during its Annual Dinner, Health and Harmony, on April 14 in Madison at Monona Terrace. The Superhero of Medicine Award is presented annually to recognize physicians who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the health of their community.

Dr. Watson is an OB-GYN at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph’s Campus and leads efforts for continuous improvement regarding maternal and infant health and has implemented innovative models for hospital-based care for obstetric patients. She is well respected by her peers for promoting and sustaining clinical excellence, performance improvement and patient safety. Dr. Watson is a hero for her championing of Blanket of Love (a social-support program that helps expectant mothers and families from pregnancy to beyond their baby’s first birthday), her efforts that led to a reduction of primary c-sections reducing complications, injuries and deaths and her generosity in sharing her time and expertise with health professionals across the state to improve the care and treatment of OB-GYN patients.

This award comes with a donation made in honor of the recipient to the non-profit of their choosing. The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is pleased to present a donation in honor of Dr. Watson to Bread of Healing Clinic, a free medical clinic designed to serve low-income people who experience barriers to accessing ongoing health care. Barbara Horner-Ibler, MD, M.Div., MSW, Executive Director and Physician of the Bread of Healing Clinic was thrilled to hear that Dr. Watson would be recognized for her work. She notes, “We take our clinic name from the Hebrew Scriptures, ‘Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.’ (Ecclesiastes 11:1) It is a recognition that we all give and receive from the waters of life. Dr. Watson’s designation of the Bread of Healing Clinic as the recipient of her award dollars is an example of one such gift! We will hope to use it well to make more gifts available to others downstream.”

Mark your calendar for Friday, April 14, 2023, to hear from Dr. Watson and celebrate her profound work. The theme for our event is Health and Harmony. In addition to the award recognition, there will be a great social time with colleagues, a lively raffle and wine pull and time to tap and sing along to the fabulously fun and talented, Piano Fondue, Dueling Pianos. We will recognize several other notable physicians in the state, including incoming Wisconsin Medical Society President Don Lee, MD. Dr. Watson will also be participating on a panel about Maternal and Infant Health Inequity during the CME portion of Health and Harmony.

Proceeds from this event support health initiatives across the state and our well-trained and dedicated physician workforce in Wisconsin.

To partner with the Foundation as a sponsor, click here or contact Mikaela Powers.

To purchase individual tickets, click here.

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Spring primary – reminder to vote February 21

Wisconsin’s February 21 primary is fast approaching. There’s an open seat on the state’s seven-member supreme court and of the four candidates, two will advance to the April 4 general election. Turnout for these types of primaries is historically much lower than general elections or even the fall elections’ primaries, so your vote this month carries the greatest weight.

Absentee and in-person voting is underway. The My Vote Wisconsin website offers information such as your voting location, how to vote early and a list of what is on your specific ballot.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is generally considered to have a 4-3 conservative majority. With conservative Justice Patience Roggensack retiring after the current term, the outcome of the supreme court election will have a dramatic impact on the majority’s ideology. Two candidates running for a 10-year term are considered conservative and two are considered liberal. The new justice will join the court on August 1, 2023.

Learn more about the candidates:

Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Everett Mitchell

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz

You can read a decent overview of the candidates in this PBS Wisconsin article, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or this TMJ4 roundup.

Contact WisMed’s Heidi Green or Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Vote for Society offices via WisMed Mobile

 

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) Members can vote for WisMed President-elect and Treasurer via the WisMed Mobile app.* According to WisMed’s Constitution, Article V, the President-elect and Treasurer will be elected by the general membership.

 

The Nominating Committee of the Wisconsin Medical Society prepared a slate of nominees for WisMed offices during its January 20 meeting. The nominees, including those for American Medical Association (AMA) Delegates are as follows:

• President-elect: Cynthia M. Hart, MD, FAAFP
• AMA Delegate 2024 and 2025: George Lange, MD, FACP
• AMA Delegate 2024 and 2025: Don S. Lee, MD, MPH, FACP, SFHM
• AMA Delegate 2024 and 2025: Kieran McAvoy, MD
• AMA Alternate Delegate 2024: Corey M. Cronrath, DO, MPH, MBA
• AMA Alternate Delegate 2024: Tony Thrasher, DO, MBA, DFAPA
• AMA Alternate Delegate 2024 and 2025: Thomas I. Joles, MD
• AMA Alternate Delegate 2024 and 2025: Roger Kapoor, MD, MBA

The Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors, as directed by WisMed’s Bylaws, selected its nominee for Treasurer on January 21, 2023:

• Treasurer: Mr. John Cook, CPA

The ballot for President-elect and Treasurer will be available until the close of business March 10. All Wisconsin Medical Society members are eligible to vote via WisMed Mobile.* The candidate materials are available for review on the ballot as well.

The Board of Directors will consider nominees for the AMA Delegates, Board of Directors and Nominating Committee members at its meeting in April.

*If you haven’t downloaded WisMed Mobile app, you can do so here. For assistance, please contact membership@wismed.org or 800.762.8975.

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Webinar to discover the benefits of Investing in Real Estate with WisMed Financial and Investors Associated LLP

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming webinar, Investing in Real Estate, co-hosted by WisMed Financial, Inc. and Investors Associated LLP. This 45-minute webinar, which will take place on March 17 from 12:00-12:45, is designed to help physicians learn about the benefits of real estate investing and how to get started.

Real estate investment can be a great way for physicians to build long-term wealth and diversify their investment portfolios. This webinar will cover a range of topics, including:

• The benefits of investing in real estate
• Various ways to invest in real estate
• Pros and cons of real estate opportunities
• Strategies for successful real estate investing
• Tax benefits and impact

WisMed Financial, a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Medical Society, is dedicated to providing financial services and education to physicians. Investors Associated LLP is a real estate investment firm with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Together, they will provide valuable insights and practical tips for successful real estate investment.

The webinar is free to attend, and all physicians are welcome to join. Whether you're new to real estate investing or looking to expand your portfolio, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn from experts in the field and connect with other like-minded physicians.

Registration is now open, so be sure to reserve your spot today. A replay will be provided to all registrants. We look forward to seeing you there!

For personalized help eliminating debt, investing smart and securing retirement, 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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Reminder: abortion law webinar recording available for WisMed members

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members can access the recording of the September 20 abortion law webinar, “Providing Patient Care Post-Dobbs: A Look at Wisconsin Abortion Law.” Developed to support WisMed members with questions surrounding the status of Wisconsin’s abortion-related law following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022, legal experts from the Madison law firm Pines Bach discussed the current legal landscape.

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist and a leader in preserving reproductive rights, also provided a medical perspective during part of the program. Click here to watch the recording. Member login is required.*

*Accessing the webinar 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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Free supplies available from DHS

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has extended an opportunity for partner organizations and stakeholders to fill out a survey to request free supplies. Available items range from PPE to office materials. Please submit your request using the State Supply Request Survey by Monday, February 27 at 9 a.m.

Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All remaining supplies have been consolidated into one location; therefore, DHS will prioritize organizations who can pick up their requested supplies in Madison. A member of the DHS COVID-19 Vaccination Program will contact you following your survey submission regarding your request and to coordinate supply distribution. 

If you have any questions, please email dhscovidrequestssurvey@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Thank you for your continued service and dedication to COVID-19 efforts. 

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