Doctor Day 2026 Focused on Upcoming Elections

Doctor Day 2026 took a focused look at how physicians can be effective advocates in the thick of election season. Attendees from across the state spent June 25 in Madison hearing from health care policy and politics experts about the upcoming elections, what kind of advocacy works in one-on-one meetings with legislators, and physician-led breakout sessions discussing key issues facing Wisconsin physicians.

Karen Wong, MD, Keynote

Prof. Charles Franklin, Keynote

Legislative Panel

Doctor Day is an annual partnership among the state’s specialty medical societies and the Wisconsin Medical Society. Physicians who work directly with patients see firsthand how policy decisions play out in real life. Elected officials, by contrast, often craft health care legislation based on abstract projections, lobbyist input, or political pressure, without the ground-level perspective that reveals unintended consequences before they cause harm. By sharing concrete clinical experiences and patient stories, physicians can help lawmakers understand the practical realities of proposed policies, making it more likely that well-intentioned laws achieve their goals and less likely that poorly designed ones cause lasting damage to patient care.

Advocacy Panel

Attendees

Breakout Session

Click here to learn more about the speakers and stay tuned for an announcement of the date for Doctor Day 2027. In the meantime, consider setting up a meeting with your legislators. Click here to find your legislators and their contact information.

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Improving Access to SMBP Services for Wisconsin Medicaid Beneficiaries

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) is pleased to share that Wisconsin Medicaid has expanded its coverage benefits to include home blood pressure devices and reimbursement for Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) clinical services. 

SMBP has emerged as a crucial tool for both physicians and patients to manage and improve control of hypertension. Patients are able to measure and monitor their blood pressure frequently and accurately, allowing for more data points to be collected and reviewed by their care team for clinical decision making. This proactive approach allows patients to have agency in managing their own health and learning about their blood pressure (BP) numbers, and leads to better management of hypertension, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events and ultimately improves patient outcomes.

The new home BP device coverage benefit also extends to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium period, such as pre-eclampsia, to help improve maternal health outcomes, as hypertensive disorders are the leading cause of maternal mortality.

The decision to cover SMBP aligns with established clinical guidelines that are recommended by leading medical organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Heart Association (AHA). These guidelines emphasize the importance of SMBP in both diagnosing and managing hypertension, highlighting its efficacy in improving health care delivery and patient well-being.

SMBP can also be a cost saving intervention, when offered with initial patient training and ongoing clinical support.  Studies have shown that SMBP leads to reduced health care utilization, fewer hospitalizations, and lower overall health care costs.

WisMed wants to raise awareness about the expanded Medicaid benefit and ensure physicians and care teams have the necessary resources to help their patients take advantage of this new coverage. Ensuring that patients have access to evidence-based preventive care coverage is one of the most impactful health care interventions and has the potential to save millions of lives.  

For additional details on Wisconsin Medicaid policy and guidance on integrating SMBP into clinical care, visit the AMA's resources:

Self-measured blood pressure benefits for patients with Medicaid: Wisconsin
ForwardHealth Changes to Blood Pressure Monitoring Equipment Requirement no.  2025-21 (PDF)
ForwardHealth Medical Records Policy Relating to DME Dispensing
Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin SMBP Education & Billing Guide (PDF)

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We Need to Hear From You! Take the Foundation County Survey

At the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation), our one goal is a healthy Wisconsin. We believe this starts by creating a platform for Wisconsin physicians who are at the forefront of their communities. You know the real issues impacting your patients’ health and livelihood. You know the local programs that are serving the gaps that can’t be addressed in the clinic. You see the challenges faced by your fellow physicians and care support teams. We are here to listen. We rely on input from physicians across the state to inform our decisions regarding where and how to invest resources to achieve our goal. Please take a few minutes to complete the annual Foundation County Survey.

Working with the Wisconsin Medical Society (Society), we are responding to those concerns that are most critical to you and your patients, and we need to hear from you to do that. This survey is an opportunity to share your concerns regarding community and patient health, workforce issues, and your thoughts on organized medicine.

We hope you’ll complete the survey and encourage your colleagues to participate. We need to hear from physicians in every stage of their career, every part of the state, and every area of practice. Your survey responses have a direct impact on which community organizations are invited to apply for Foundation Grants and where Foundation and Society resources can be used to support our physician workforce.

If you prefer to do your survey by phone or in-person, or if you have questions, please contact Yoshie Wingate at [email protected].

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Identifying Lead Poisoning – Free CME

It’s been nearly 50 years since the federal government banned the consumer use of lead-based paint, yet childhood lead poisoning remains a very real problem for children and families in the city of Milwaukee. While rates of childhood lead poisoning are noticeably higher for Milwaukee, risk is present throughout the state of Wisconsin. In addition to old paint, lead hazards can be found in ammunition, fishing gear, imported dishware and spices, some water pipes….and many other sources. Additionally, lead levels increase in summer due to things such as open windows and playing on porches and in soil, all places that may contain lead.

Health care professionals play a critical role in identifying lead poisoning in our community. Whether you practice in the city of Milwaukee or a northern rural area, it is important to know the state recommendations for childhood lead testing, information about sources of lead where you live, and clinical guidance for managing high lead levels. A new online video collaboration by the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Children’s Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Poison Center provides an excellent overview, with additional clinical resources and printable handouts. While the education is targeted to Milwaukee health professionals, there are key points that apply throughout the state, and free CME is included.

For more information and tips to improve your practice, click here.

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The Doctors Company Completes Acquisition of ProAssurance

The Doctors Company has announced that it has completed its acquisition of ProAssurance Corporation, bringing together two longstanding medical professional liability insurance organizations. For WisMed Assure clients, there are no immediate changes to your medical professional liability coverage or service. If your policy is with ProAssurance, your coverage, policy terms, and day-to-day support remain the same.

WisMed Assure will continue working closely with our carrier partners to ensure our members receive the high level of service and protection they expect. If you have any questions about how this announcement may affect you or your policy, please contact your WisMed Assure agent.

You can read the full announcement here.

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Upcoming: Walk With a Doc at McKee Farms Park on Saturday, July 4

Join Sheila Knerr MD, in a Walk With a Doc Saturday, July 4 at 9 a.m. at McKee Farms Park to learn about health and meet new people. We will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of Walk With a Doc at McKee Farms Park and this month’s health talk will be about heat awareness.

Feel free to bring a friend, your children, or your pets. Everyone is welcome! You’re encouraged to ask questions and stroll at your own pace. 

You can join every first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at McKee Farms Park, location made possible by sponsorship with YMCA Dane County, Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, Wisconsin Medical Society, and our wonderful physician leaders and clinics. You can pre-register here.

Walk With a Doc is a great opportunity for physicians to become more involved in their community, and participants enjoy the time they have to get their daily steps in and ask questions to a licensed health care professional. If you are interested in starting a Walk With a Doc program in your own community or would like to participate as a physician speaker, please contact Yoshie Wingate at [email protected] for more information.

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Request a Speaker from WisMed’s Speakers Bureau

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) Speakers Bureau is an initiative designed to connect experienced physicians with opportunities to speak at meetings, conferences, workshops, and other events. 

If you’re looking for an engaging speaker for your next event, the WisMed Speakers Bureau can connect your organization with knowledgeable physicians and health care leaders who can present on a wide range of medical and health-related topics.

Whether you’re planning a conference, community event, or educational session for CME, our experts can elevate your event with engaging presentations tailored to your audience.

Additionally, WisMed members can apply to become a speaker. Simply visit our website and complete the online form to help us understand your areas of expertise, background, requirements, and the topics you are passionate about. A WisMed representative will follow up to ensure we match you with opportunities that align with your skills and availability.

If you have any questions regarding the Speakers Bureau, please contact [email protected].

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