Post-partum coverage bill moves forward on unanimous committee support

The Wisconsin State Senate’s Committee on Insurance and Small Business unanimously approved legislation this week that would extend care for new moms in the Medicaid program for a full year post-partum – an increase from the current 60-day coverage. The 5-0 vote to recommend passage of Senate Bill 110 continues the overwhelming bipartisan momentum for the legislation, which has more than 70 legislative cosponsors.

The bill was one of the main subjects of Doctor Day 2023 just two weeks ago, with hundreds of Wisconsin physicians and medical students visiting State Capitol offices and urging their elected officials to support the measure. Current law can prompt a coverage gap for a mother who gives birth, with Medicaid coverage cut off after two months post-partum if the mother has an income above 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Currently the FPL for a family of two is $19,720 in annual earnings. You can read more about the positive opportunities coverage extension can foster in this Doctor Day 2023 information paper.

If your state senator was one of the committee members voting to approve the bill, sending them a quick thank you note or making a quick phone call can show that physicians are paying attention to what their elected officials do in the Capitol. Committee members:

Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), chair

Sen. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), vice-chair

Sen. John Jagler (R-Watertown)

Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee)

Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska)

Senate Bill 110 is now eligible for a vote in the full Senate, and approval is expected – probably during the fall 2023 session. Similar legislation has been introduced in the State Assembly as Assembly Bill 114, but has yet to receive a committee hearing. Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members interested in the issue can reach out to their state legislators to express opinions on the bills – contact WisMed’s Mark Grapentine, JD or Heidi Green for more information about the legislation or how you can contact your state senator and state assembly representative.

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AMA reviews Wisconsin ruling on case impacting physicians’ ability to provide quality care

The American Medical Association (AMA) spoke with Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) President Don Lee, MD, MPH, regarding the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on the Gahl v. Aurora Health Care case, which involved a state circuit court issuing an order that compelled a Wisconsin hospital to provide ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient, despite copious studies concluding that the drug is ineffective in fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. WisMed partnered with the AMA to file an amicus brief in a case that would have forced a Wisconsin hospital to administer ivermectin to treat a patient with COVID-19.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, May 2, that a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge erred when issuing a temporary injunction that would have forced a hospital to allow treatment it considered below the standard of care. The positive result, by an emphatic 6-1 margin, upheld a Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversal of the circuit court.

“While the case got a lot of attention because it involved ivermectin and COVID-19, it was about much more than just ivermectin. It was about whether a judge can force physicians to treat their patients in a way that violates their own ethical principles, including ‘do no harm,’” Dr. Lee said in response to the ruling. “We are trained to save lives. According to court records, this patient improved with oxygen, ventilator support, steroids and without ivermectin.

“There are more than 250 circuit court judges in Wisconsin, so the ramifications of our Supreme Court allowing a circuit-court judge to practice medicine on the bench would have been devastating to patient care.”

Read the full AMA article here and contact WisMed Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Providing Culturally Relevant Care to the Latinx/e Community webinar

The first of three sessions of the free training for health teams, Providing Culturally Relevant Care to the Latinx/e Community, will be held online on Monday July 17 from 4-6 p.m. The other sessions will be held in October. This course is funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s Henry and Irene Anderson Fund to the Latino Health Council. The mission of the Latino Health Council is to promote and support the health and well-being of the Latino community through education, advocacy, consulting and networking.

The training will be led by 2022 Superhero of Medicine recipient and Associate Professor in the University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Department, Patricia Tellez-Giron, MD, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at UW Health, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, MA, DDM, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director at RISE Wisconsin, Fernando Cano Ospina. This webinar will give you tools to be able to provide better care for your Latinx patients and families and will focus on the following learning objectives:

• Describe the barriers faced by emerging Latinx/e communities in the reception of quality culturally sensitive care.
• Consider basic concepts of the intersection of immigration and health care. 
• Learn about community assets and key strategies to provide culturally and linguistically relevant care to the Latinx/e communities.

The Latinx/e communities are now the largest non-White racial or ethnic group in the nation and in Wisconsin, account for 19% of the US population and 7.5 % of our state. A community with many protective factors and resilience, the Latinx/e community continues to be impacted by systemic inequities that have led to a higher burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and mental health illnesses.

The impact of specific social determinants of health like a broken immigration system, the lack of access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services, higher poverty rates and personal and cultural beliefs are disproportionally affecting the health of the Latinx/e community. All physicians and health care staff are encouraged to participate. Please register for the event here. Questions about the training can be directed to the Latino Health Council at [email protected].

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to support physician-championed community health programs to increase health equity and access in Wisconsin. To learn more about the Foundation Grant program, please contact Jaime Craig at [email protected]. Your gifts to the Foundation will go to support other important programs in Wisconsin providing direct support to people in need. Give to the Foundation here.

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New leaders for Med Student and Resident/Fellow Sections

Congratulations to the new leaders of the Medical Student Section (MSS) and Resident Fellow Section (RFS)!

Medical Student Section leaders

MCW Chair
Breanna Palmen

MCW Board of Directors
Matida Bojang

UWSMPH Chair
Laurie Lapp

UWSMPH Board of Directors
Greigory Dimailig

MCW Advocacy Officer
Leah Poulos

UWSMPH Advocacy Officer
Andrew Norton

MCW At Large Officer
Zoe Weller

UWSMPH At Large Officer
Juliana Craig

Resident Fellow Section leaders

RFS representative to the Society's Board of Directors
Stephanie Strohbeen, MD

RFS representative to the Society's Nominating Committee
Morgan Lamberg

Chair
Thomas Mehner, DO

Vice-chair
Isha Jain, MD

Secretary-editor
Megan Quamme, MD

At-large governing council members
Ragav Sharma, DO
Hannah Johnshoy, MD

American Medical Association (AMA) RFS delegates
Thomas Mehner, DO
Isha Jain, MD
Megan Quamme, MD
Stephanie Strohbeen, MD

Please email the Society's Membership Department or call 800.762.8975 with questions.

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Events in Madison, Milwaukee welcome residents and fellows

This week, the Resident and Fellow Section held their second Annual Welcome to Wisconsin Events in Madison and Milwaukee. WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial sponsored the Madison event on June 26 at Café Hollander where Madison-area residents gathered. WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial, along with the Medical Society of Milwaukee, sponsored the Milwaukee gathering at Camp Bar in Wauwatosa on June 27.

At both events, attendees heard from representatives from the Wisconsin Medical Society, WisMed Assure, WisMed Financial and the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation about the importance of becoming and staying involved in organized medicine.

Residents and fellows learned about:

• opportunities to get involved
• the important advocacy work being done with their input and on their behalf
• ways to protect their reputation and income
• programs to support them throughout their careers

Wisconsin Medical Society President Don Lee, MD, MPH, FACP, attended both events to share his passion for organized medicine and encouraged attendees to stay involved and active here in Wisconsin.

Thank you to all those who attended. We look forward to supporting you throughout your career and helping give voice to the future of medicine.

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WisMed Assure can assist you with your Medicare decisions

Many Medicare eligible participants are familiar with Medicare, but the process is confusing to them so we’re here to assist you with those issues. Here are the answers to some common questions.

Do I need to sign up for both Part A and B or just Part A? 

Whether you choose Part A, B or both depends on the plan you’re on, the benefits you’re looking for and if you have any spend down accounts that can be used. Checking all your options will save you money and find the coverage that suits your needs.

Is it really necessary to get a prescription drug program or can I skip it because I don’t use any prescriptions?

Great question! Even if you do not use any prescriptions, you are required to obtain credible coverage for prescription coverage. Without it, you will acquire a lifetime penalty.

I am already on a Medicare program. Is there any help you can give me?

Yes! We compare your coverages and costs. Perhaps you’ve moved and your new address has a favorable discount or you have increased needs for prescriptions; these issues and others are addressed either during your open enrollment period each fall or at your renewal. We do the shopping for you!

Click here to learn about income related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA).

For help with your Medicare questions, contact Mary Krueger at 715.760.1350 or [email protected].

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

Originally posted May 19 in The Antidote.  

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