2023-24 state legislative biennium underway

Help support WisMed Advocacy!

The tree has been removed from the Capitol Rotunda. The echoes of the inauguration ceremony have faded away. Now the Wisconsin State Legislature has begun its work for this biennium, and you can be an important help in advancing Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) policy goals!

One of the legislature’s first orders of business is creating the committees that will take public testimony on proposed legislation and make recommendations on whether to pass bills through to the full State Assembly or State Senate for votes. While WisMed follows more than a dozen committees each biennium, the Assembly and Senate committees focused on health issues are particularly important. Therefore, if a WisMed member has a relationship with a member of the committee, please let us know – those legislator-constituent interactions are invaluable.

The Health Committees

Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care:
Representative Clint Moses (Chair) (R-Menomonie)
Representative Donna Rozar (Vice-Chair) (R-Marshfield)
Representative Robert Brooks (R-Saukville)
Representative Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc)
Representative Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger)
Representative Gae Magnafici (R-Dresser)
Representative David Murphy (R-Greenville)
Representative Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon)
Representative Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton)
Representative Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer)
Representative Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah)
Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison)
Representative Riemer (D-Milwaukee)
Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg)
Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa)
Representative Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee)

Senate Committee on Health:
Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Chair) (R-Appleton)
Senator Patrick Testin (Vice-Chair) (R-Stevens Point)
Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma)
Senator André Jacque (R-DePere)
Senator Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton)
Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee)

WisMed Priorities

WisMed’s mission is steadfast: 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.

This session we are pursuing that mission in several areas:

• Improve the physician health care workforce and physician wellness.
  • Expand and support the physician pipeline – from medical school to residencies to fostering a practice environment that inspires physicians to want to practice in Wisconsin.
  • Work with the Governor, state agencies and the state legislature to improve the medical licensure process and processing time.
  • Enhance resources for physician health needs.  
• Protect and promote physician-led health care.
  • Protect our state’s status as a high-quality health care environment by continuing to utilize physician-led, team-based care.
  • Promote health care truth in advertising by ensuring only physicians can use terms referring to professionals with an MD or DO.  
• Reduce administrative burden.
  • Governor Tony Evers has successfully won two races for governor by touting his goal to “fix the damn roads.” The roads physicians use while taking care of patients could also use some significant maintenance, such as combating needless prior authorization requirements interfering with timely and necessary care and continuing to work with the state’s Medical Examining Board on administrative rules affecting physicians.
• Maintain our relatively stable medical liability environment.
  • Wisconsin has one of the fairest medical liability systems in the nation, providing injured patients with unlimited economic damages while keeping liability premiums affordable. Freeing physicians from practicing “defensive medicine” benefits Wisconsin’s entire health care system.

As always, WisMed will advocate for sound policies that protect and improve the health of our citizens while ensuring everyone can access our high-quality care, and physician members communicating with their elected officials when needed will continue to be critical.

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

Back to top

Student scholarship and fellowship applications due February 1

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year and fellowship applications are open and due on February 1. Medical students are encouraged to check out these opportunities on our website and submit their application by February 1, 2023.

 

Scholarships
Several scholarships with specific eligibility requirements are available through the Foundation including the following:

• Victor A. Baylon, MD, Scholarship
• Robert Jason Gore Scholarship
• Amy Hunter-Wilson, MD, Scholarship
• Marathon County Medical Society Scholarship
• John D. and Virginia Riesch Scholarship
• Rukmini and Joyce Vasudevan Scholarship
• Edmund J. and Estelle D. Walker Scholarship Fund
• Presidential Scholar Award

Additional information on each scholarship and the application form is available here.

The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee takes great care and pride in selecting the best applicant for each scholarship offered and gives preference to students who are from Wisconsin and attending medical school here. Students currently in their first, second or third year of medical school are encouraged to apply.

Summer Fellowships
The Foundation’s Summer Fellowship program supports important physician-directed research or health education in critical public health areas, while also providing medical students with learning opportunities. Medical students, including those who also are pursuing a Master of Public Health, may apply. Learn more on our website or email Jaime Craig.

Back to top

If you hate setting annual goals, relax, you’re not alone!

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI – WisMed Assure President

If your employer requires you to set annual goals, but it feels tedious, overwhelming and not very meaningful to you, relax, you’re not alone!

Because we’re on a mission to protect and accelerate your success, we asked our team to share their secrets for successfully achieving the goals they set. And, we’ve kept it simple by selecting the top three:

• Make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). Here’s the best part; if you’re required to set work goals you can actually make them personally meaningful by making them specific and relevant. And, by defining how you will measure results and setting a time deadline, you set yourself up for success.
• Write it down! A Google search reveals many studies that conclude you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals when you write them down. Success is increased when you share your goals with others… some of whom may actually hold you accountable.
• Don’t set more than three major goals. Big goals always have sub-parts, objectives and tactics; business and life coaches agree, more than three goals is too many.

While you’re at it, why not use these three rules when you set personal goals? 

Chris Noffke, WisMed Assure Vice President of Employee Benefits and a Goal-Achieving Champion, offered to share his professional and personal goals as an example: 

• Work Goal: Exceed goal by 20%
• Professional Goal: Complete the next two courses for my REBC designation
• Personal Goal: Exercise 3 times per week

Other members of our team have shared some of their personal goals:

• Plan and schedule 3 trips around the country this year.
• Go camping more than 5 times this year.
• Declutter the house in preparation for sale, only keep what is necessary and makes me happy.
• Be more mindful each day of what is good.
• Go to the gym 3 days each week and do yoga every morning.
• Eat good food, just a little less and don’t measure weight or calories.

What are your goals for 2023? The WisMed Assure team wishes you luck in achieving them. Contact Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI, WisMed Assure President, at [email protected] or 608.442.3738, to learn how WisMed Assure can help you meet your insurance needs.

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

Change in recommendations for prescribing oral antibiotics for respiratory infections with Streptococcus pneumonia

Guest article by Barry C. Fox, MD, WisMed COVID-19 Task Force Member

A newly published study from a collaboration of Wisconsin resources has significant implications for prescribing of antibiotics for respiratory infections. The recommendations regarding prescribing “first line” oral antibiotics for respiratory infections with Streptococcus pneumonia in Wisconsin has changed. When using monotherapy, doxycycline is more likely to be effective than azithromycin.

In 2019, the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America updated clinical practice guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In contrast to guidelines published in 2007, macrolide monotherapy for outpatients was made a conditional recommendation based on rising resistance levels. Local knowledge for Wisconsin of antimicrobial susceptibility was needed to guide management of CAP and other bacterial respiratory infections including sinusitis and otitis media.

Data published by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) were augmented with data from the Surveillance of Wisconsin Organisms for Trends in Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology (SWOTARE). The purpose of the study was to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and trending for Wisconsin Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.

Susceptibility rates for invasive (bloodstream) S. pneumoniae assessed from 2016-2020 were greater than 91% for IV ceftriaxone, oral tetracycline, and oral fluoroquinolone agents and were higher than those from non-invasive (respiratory) isolates. Rates of S. pneumoniae susceptibility to IV penicillins and IV cephalosporins, and oral tetracycline (>90%) and oral fluoroquinolone agents, remained high throughout Wisconsin.

However, lower susceptibility rates were observed for invasive isolates for standard oral penicillin dosing (78.7%) and oral erythromycin (64.8%), and were even lower for non-invasive isolates (73.8% and 59.9%, respectively). The erythromycin susceptibility rate in 2016-2020 was a significant reduction from that observed in 2006-2010 (P < 0.0002) and 24.8% of isolates now showed “high level” resistance to erythromycin.

Lower oral penicillin susceptibility rates, taken together with significantly declining macrolide susceptibility rates, should cause clinicians to consider alternative treatment options for respiratory tract infections, especially with macrolides.

“High dose” oral amoxicillin strategies are still likely to be effective, but Tetracycline/Doxycycline is more likely to be effective for CAP and other respiratory conditions where S. pneumoniae is suspected, especially when used as monotherapy.

Back to top

Take advantage of your WisMed Perks with WisMed credit card, discounts on electronics, travel and more

Personal or Business Credit Card

If you’re purchasing new technology or planning spring travel, consider taking advantage of a personal or business credit card exclusively for WisMed members. Perks include special intro APR, cash back offers and premier cash back rewards. Explore your WisMed Mastercard® options at wismed.bhgchoice.com/credit.

Tech and Electronics

Is your computer freezing? Start your new year off frustration-free with a new PC through our Lenovo online store’s deals on bestselling PCs, tablets, phones and electronics. Click here to learn more or if you need assistance with purchases, call 1.800.426.7235 (M-F: 8 am – 8 pm, Sat: 8 am – 5 pm). Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently.

Hotel Discounts

Hotel Engine is a free and exclusive members-only hotel booking platform that connects WisMed members to deeply discounted hotel rates. Take advantage of an average of 26% off public rates at more than 150K+ hotels; no contracts, annual fees, or minimum spends; and superior 24/7, U.S.-based customer support. Sign up for free at members.hotelengine.com/join/wismed101.

Travel Savings Center

WisMed members have access to exclusive travel savings from car rentals, hotels, and ticketing discounts to condos, villas, cruises, guided tours and group travel packages. Find exclusive savings from brands like Avis and Budget, Wyndham, Collette and member-exclusive hotel discount aggregators. 

Check back often for new providers and promotions! Whether you simply want to get from here to there or make your dream vacation a reality, WisMed members have all the tools right at your fingertips. Learn more here.

Back to top

New resources: AMA STEPS Forward® toolkits

The American Medical Association (AMA) has developed resources for physicians to gain the tools you need to overcome barriers and restore the joy in your practice of medicine. AMA STEPS Forward® practice innovation strategies offer real-world solutions to the challenges that your practice is confronting today. 

New AMA STEPS Forward® Toolkits:

Collective Trauma Toolkit: Respond Effectively as an Organization
Gain actionable STEPS, practical tools, and supporting resources to help your organization respond effectively to collective trauma now and in the future.

Telehealth Integration and Optimization Toolkit
Integrate and optimize telehealth in your practice in a sustainable way.

AMA STEPS Forward® Innovation Academy Virtual Events:

Improving Environmental Stability in your Medical Practice
Wednesday, January 18, 11:00 am CT
Michael Tutty, PhD, MHA, group vice president of AMA Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability, and Todd Sack, MD, FACP of Mygreendoctor.org, present the benefits of going green and effective strategies to implement throughout your practice in this live AMA STEPS Forward® webinar.

Private Practice Simple Solutions: Telehealth
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 10:15 am CT
This free four-week learning session offers support with continuing to leverage telehealth to provide patient care in a private practice setting.

Closing the Digital Health Disconnect: A Blueprint for Optimizing Digitally Enabled Care
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 11:00 am CT
This pre-recorded panel discusses the 2022 Future of Health report and is followed by a live Q&A. Jointly developed by the AMA and Manatt Health.

AMA STEPS Forward® Podcast Episodes:

Mental Health Counseling for Physicians and APPs
Dr. Rob McGregor, Chief Medical Officer and Pediatric Hospitalist at Akron Children’s Hospital, shares his experience creating a strategic program that provides free and confidential mental health services for physicians and APPs. Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Annie’s Place: First-of-Its-Kind Free Childcare for Patients 
Dr. Kavita Bhavan, Chief Innovation Officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System, and Natalie Boyle, founder of Mommies in Need, discuss Annie’s Place: a center at Parkland Hospital that provides free and safe childcare for children of patients, as well as backup childcare for first responders and frontline health care workers. Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Miscellaneous:

Debunking Regulatory Myths: Mental Health
Does the Joint Commission and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) require that medical licensing boards, credentialing bodies and professional liability insurance carriers ask applicants about any past history of mental illness or substance use disorder on licensure, credentialing and other applications?

Back to top