When your vote has the most impact: spring elections

There is no time when your individual vote has more overall impact than during a spring election – and especially if there’s a spring primary. You can probably tell from all the television and radio ads that Wisconsin’s February 21 primary is fast approaching, with the marquee race an open seat on the state’s seven-member supreme court. With four candidates vying for your vote, 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 has a bevy of information, including your voting place location, how to vote early or get an absentee ballot, 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 or the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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

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Foundation sponsoring CME on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at Annual Event

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to sponsor a grant to the Wisconsin Medical Society for their Education Conference on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion as part of Health & Harmony, their annual event. The education conference will be held on Friday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, with the Foundation fundraiser to follow and the business meeting on Saturday.

Plan your weekend for Health & Harmony, the WisMed Annual Event:

• Medical Education Conference - April 14, 9 a.m.
• Foundation Fundraising Event - April 14, 5 p.m.
• Annual Business Meeting - April 15, 9 a.m. 

Register here for part or all of the weekend.

Underrepresented or marginalized racial and ethnic populations have shorter life spans, greater physical and mental illness burden, earlier onset and more aggressive progression of disease, higher maternal and infant mortality and less access to health care services. All of these factors also weigh heavily on the mental health of patients and physicians. Experts in a variety of aspects on these topics will help physician participants apply the learnings to their diverse patient populations, regardless of geographic location of their practice, employment classification or primary specialty. This education is designed to empower physicians to make change and advocate for awareness as well as apply social determinants of health into clinical practice encounters and medical decision-making.

Increasing health equity and access in Wisconsin is core to the mission of the Foundation. As a public charity, the Foundation’s Grant Committee and Board carefully deliberate on how best to invest resources from individual donors and endowments established to carry on charitable legacies. In addition to considering population health data, each year the Foundation solicits comments from physicians in every county to learn more about public health and physician workforce concerns facing their communities and which resources are available. Health disparities are a recurring concern throughout the state.

To learn more about Foundation supported programs, visit our website. To register for Wisconsin Medical Society’s Education Conference on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, please click here. Funding for this session is from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s PIC Wisconsin Fund and the Charles W. Landis, MD Fund. Because the Foundation feels this CME opportunity is so important, when you register for the CME, you will have the opportunity to attend the Foundation’s Fundraising Event in the evening for free.

Additionally, we are excited to announce sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities for Health & Harmony! Exhibitors will spend the day connecting with Health & Harmony attendees from across the state. In addition to the booth, you will have the opportunity to have a table at our evening event allowing for the connection (and fun!) to continue.

Learn more here or contact Mikaela Powers.

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Reminder: weigh in on WisMed Board actions on policy proposals

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) Board of Directors (Board) recently acted on four policy proposals submitted through PolicyLink. Those proposal topics include:

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

Now WisMed members can weigh in on those Board actions via PolicyLink and register their support, disagreement and/or other comments. The comment period for this round of policy proposals will be open through Thursday, February 16. This feedback is advisory for the Board.

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 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.

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Get to know the WisMed Assure Team

WisMed Assure, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s insurance agency, offers members discounts on and exclusive access to insurance products including medical malpractice insurance, business owners’ insurance, WPS Medicare Supplement program, dental, health, disability and life insurance. WisMed Assure’s Team Income Defense helps individual physicians protect their income.

The team consists of Tom Strangstalien, Insurance Advisor, Lisa Koerner, Insurance Advisor, and Mary Krueger, Insurance Advisor.

Today we’ll learn more about Lisa Koerner.

What products and services does Team Income Defense provide?

We provide comprehensive disability coverages, simple to complex life insurance, annuities and estate planning coordination.

Why is it important for physicians to have this coverage in place?

Physicians have a unique profession that exposes them to risks every day – both on and off the job. These programs allow our members and their families to continue to live the lifestyle they are accustomed to if the member should suffer from a serious illness, injury or loss of life. When it comes to health insurance, we can help make sure our clients have needed coverage as they move towards retirement - whether it is a Medicare Supplement, Advantage Plan or the Part D for your prescriptions.

Tell us a little about your background and why you do what you do?

I have been helping individuals protect their income and assets since 2007. I grew up in Luxemburg, Wisconsin and currently live in De Pere Wisconsin. My husband and I have been together for 37 years. We have a kind and caring son and a mischievous cat.

What’s different about WisMed Assure?

WisMed Assure believes in teamwork for the client. We research and confer with others, if need be, to find the suitable coverages and will locate other representatives in other states or companies we don’t represent to give our members the best benefits possible. WisMed Assure works with several different companies with programs designed specifically to cover the needs of the medical community while treating you like a member of their family.   

WisMed Assure is a service of the Wisconsin Medical Society. Our revenue supports the fulfillment of the Society’s mission to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin by supporting and strengthening physicians' ability to practice high-quality patient care in a changing environment.    

What’s your favorite client story?

I had a client who had taken out a life insurance policy with a trust as the beneficiary to care for his disabled wife in the event that he was no longer there. A year later he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and died a month later. His wife was able to use the benefits from the policy to stay home and continue to have caregivers come to the house to care for her. 

Reach out to the WisMed Assure team at insurance@wismedassure.org, complete this quick online form or call 608.442.3810 for help with your insurance needs.

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

WisMed members save on office supplies, tech, car rentals and more through WisMed Perks

Through WisMed Perks, Wisconsin Medical Society members can access vendor discounts on a variety of products and services, including digital marketing. Below are a few examples. 

Discounts on office supplies from ODP Business Solutions

We know that having the right tools is essential to your success. That’s why as a member of the WisMed, you have access to discounted contract pricing on a variety of items from ODP Business Solutions™.

Whether you’re looking for ink and toner, paper, cleaning products, office or school supplies, count on ODP Business Solutions™ to be in your corner with products from the brands you love – all in one convenient place. Remember, these discounts can be used for business, school or personal purchases. You can also extend the savings to staff, family and friends.

Maximize your savings with coupons and more:

• Up to 75% off of Best Value Items.
• Get free next-business-day shipping or pick up your online order in-store or curbside.
• Up to 35% off qualifying online orders. Exclusions apply. See coupon for details. Offer valid thru February 27, 2023.

Shop now at odpbusiness.com/wismed.

Tech savings through Lenovo

Lenovo's Presidents Day sale brings monumental savings of up to 75% off plus two times the MyLenovo Rewards, now through February 26, 2023.

Shop now at lenovo.com/us/en/wismed. For assistance with purchases, call 800.426.7235 (M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET, Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET).

Car rental deals with Avis and Budget

In need of a winter escape? Make the experience safe and comfortable with deals from your Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program. With the Pay Now feature, members can save up to 35% off base rates on every rental, plus receive additional offers like a free upgrade or dollars off. Join Avis Preferred® or Budget Fastbreak rewards programs and enjoy additional perks like expedited service that will bypass the counter and save time during pickup at most locations.

To make a reservation with Avis, click here and use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number A672086.

To book with Budget, click here and use your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number B079592.

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Climate, health and the consortium

Climate change is already harming Americans’ health in many ways. We are experiencing more illness and harm from heat waves, extreme weather events, water, food and insect-borne diseases, wildfires and increased air pollution. Without immediate and concerted action, these harms threaten to become much worse. The Wisconsin Medical Society is a proud member of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. The Consortium organizes, empowers and amplifies the voice of physicians and other health professionals in advocating for equitable and effective health-focused climate solutions. Physicians are one of the most trusted sources of information on how climate change is harming health.

The Consortium has helped the Wisconsin Medical Society and other societies weigh in on EPA rollbacks, speak out in favor of a unified policy response to climate change that is beneficial to health and provide materials so members can make presentations to colleagues and communities.

The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health will host its sixth Annual Meeting on March 19-20, 2023, in person and virtually, with in-person Congressional visits on March 21. Seize the Moment for Climate Action: Building the Climate Health Movement will bring together leaders and key staff of medical societies and health advocates. The conference will include education and advocacy tracks with CME/CE opportunities and sessions on best practices for advocacy messaging. It will also include panels on climate policy, health care decarbonization and equity. Register to attend the annual meeting and get involved.

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