White Coat Campaign sponsors still needed!

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s (Foundation) White Coat Campaign is a time-honored tradition of providing a white coat and message of encouragement to all first-year students entering medical school in Wisconsin. Approximately 440 students will start medical school this year, and the physicians of Wisconsin will welcome them with white coats and messages of encouragement.

We need your support to ensure that every incoming medical student in Wisconsin is provided with a coat and welcomed to the profession of medicine. As part of the Foundation’s goal to retain physicians in Wisconsin to fill needs, we are pleased to support the students. The White Coat Campaign provides a wonderful opportunity to connect the generations and make a difference in the lives of medical students.

Individual physicians, county medical societies and health care groups are asked to consider sponsoring one or more student white coats. In addition to covering the cost of the coat, the sponsoring physician writes a short note of welcome and encouragement to the student. That note is given to the students when they receive their first white coat.

The white coat investiture ceremonies are approaching, and sponsors are still needed for 80 students, so we need your help.

To participate in the White Coat Campaign, donate online here or email Elizabeth Ringle and let her know how many students you would like to sponsor at $100 each. 

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Wisconsin health care professionals support gun violence awareness

The Wisconsin Medical Society has committed to promote gun injury prevention and signed on to recognize Gun Violence Awareness Day (GVAD) on June 2. GVAD serves as a significant reminder of the urgent need to address gun violence and the devastating impact it has on individuals, families and communities. Through a public health, multi-faceted approach, health care and public health care organizations, departments and systems can play a vital role in decreasing both intentional and unintentional firearm injuries and deaths.

The statement will be sent to legislative leaders. In addition, members of our coalition will read the letter at the following GVAD events:

Friday June 2, from 5-7 p.m., Meadowood Park, 5810 Thrush Lane, Madison, Wis.

Saturday, June 3, 10:30 a.m., Safe and Sound, 4422 West Leon Terrace, Milwaukee, Wis.

Additionally, on Thursday June 8 at 1 p.m. at the Wisconsin State Capitol there will be an event for the rollout of Gun Safety Legislation. Legislation introduced will include measures for universal background checks for gun purchases, Extreme Risk Protection Orders and safe storage in households with youth under eighteen. Any health care or public health professional or representative from your organization interested in attending this event can contact Sophie Kramer, MD, or Melissa Stiles, MD, for additional information.

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June 15 Doctor Day to focus on independent nursing and post-partum coverage for new moms – register today

Doctor Day is just two weeks away, but there’s still time to register to learn first-hand how you can make a difference in the legislative process! The day will be full of fantastic speakers, legislative visits and networking. Thanks to our sponsors, the day is free for physicians and medical students to attend. The priority issues this year are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Legislation and Extending Medicaid Coverage for New Moms.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Legislation – Bills currently up for debate in the legislature would allow for most advanced practice registered nurses (CRNAs, NPs, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists) to practice independently in Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers vetoed substantially similar legislation last session, stating in his veto message his dissatisfaction that the bill did not address “concerns raised by parties in the medical profession that went unremedied in the legislative process.” Gov. Evers then used his biennial budget proposal to lay out reasonable provisions that legislation would need to garner his signature. Physician groups agree that many of those provisions are vital if a bill is to be approved, especially:

• requiring four years of real-world experience in team-based care before being allowed to practice independently
• inclusion of important truth in advertising/titling protections that reserve terms such as “physician,” “anesthesiologist” etc. for those with a medical degree (MD or DO) and
• ensuring that any CRNA clinic offering pain management services work in collaboration with a physician specializing in pain medicine.

The legislation just received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health on May 24 (see this story), so the timing is ideal for physician input. The companion bills (same language in each) are Senate Bill 145 and Assembly Bill 154.

Extending Medicaid Coverage for New Moms to One Year Post-Partum – Another issue that has widespread physician support: extending the time period that Medicaid will cover new moms who have delivered a baby to one year post-partum, matching the coverage newborns receive when the mother is Medicaid-eligible upon delivery. Medicaid eligibility levels are more generous for pregnant mothers, so sometimes a mother “incomes out” of the Medicaid program after giving birth. This disruption harms continuity of care and often makes it more difficult for moms to seek medical care for both themselves and/or their babies – which is usually when comprehensive care is needed the most.

The companion bills are Senate Bill 110 and Assembly Bill 114.

Register today. If you have any questions, contact Heidi Green or Mark Grapentine.

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Group disability insurance can coordinate with individual policies

Planning for the unexpected is the only way to protect yourself, your family, your business and your finances. Unfortunately, the death of a loved one or becoming disabled are often unexpected. If you no longer had an income, how would you and your family fare?

In 2023, the social security disability income payment is $914 monthly for individuals and $1,371 monthly for couples. Be aware that these benefits have a five month waiting period and processing times can be slow! Could your family manage for six months without income, or after the six months, would $1,371 even be enough? How long can you and your family live at these low income rates? 

Many physicians are good at making sure to buy an individual disability policy before finishing residency. This is a fantastic time to get a $5,000 disability benefit because you’re the youngest and most likely the healthiest you may ever be. But, when your income surges to more than $10,000 a month you would still be missing more than 50% of your standard income if you became disabled. Group policies can coordinate and offer additional reassurance that your income is protected. Plus, there are ways to make these disability income dollars tax free!

We have a variety of products exclusive to WisMed Assure that other agents don’t know about. Plus, we have experience protecting physicians. You would be surprised how often I find policies sold to physician groups that don’t protect you as a specialist or insure you for your exact physician role.

Please contact Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, Vice President of Employee Benefits, at chris.noffke@wismedassure.org or call 608.442.3734 if you would like to learn more. 

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

Originally posted May 23 in The Antidote.

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