Economic impact comment period underway on MEB chaperone rule

Whenever a state government agency or regulatory board proposes a new administrative rule, there is a period when the public can comment on how the proposal could have an economic impact on their business. This is part of the process that helps inform the agency or board whether they should fully move forward with the proposal as drafted.

With the State of Wisconsin Medical Examining Board recently approving rule language that could require physicians conducting sensitive physical exams to use chaperones (see this Oct. 21 Medigram story), the economic impact public comment period is open until November 15. Many physician members have reached out to WisMed staff sharing their concerns over the rule, including how compliance could necessitate hiring additional staff, taking on unanticipated legal costs to ensure compliance with various parts of the rule and other expenses. You can see the official notice of the comment period here, which also includes the approved rule language and contact information for where comments can be sent.

Under state law, if an agency determines that a proposed rule could be reasonably expected to result in more than $10 million in implementation and compliance costs over a two-year period, the agency must stop further work on the proposal and explore other alternatives.

Contact WisMed Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Meet WisMedPAC Board Member Dr. Wertsch

Paul Wertsch, MD

Paul Wertsch, MD, is the WisMedPAC Board treasurer and has been on the board for more than 20 years. Dr. Wertsch shared some thoughts about being politically active.

How long have you been involved with politics?

I grew up in a politically mixed family. My mother was an Irish Catholic genetic Democrat and my father a German businessman Republican. In high school I discovered the Republican corn roast was a more fun place to talk to politicians.

In college at UW, in the ‘60s, with the war protests, civil rights and the free love movement raging, I found the "left" was more exciting – and had the more interesting girls! I also learned about crowd psychology and how a demonstration could turn into a riot without the participants being fully aware and how a person can act in a way they would have not voluntarily chosen before mob mentality takes over. This was frightening, in retrospect. 

How does being politically active make you a better physician?

After residency I joined the working world and then set up my own clinic. In the ‘70s I learned the dangers and difficulties of doing business with high inflation and very high resultant interest rates. I saw the government trying to do some good things but often inadvertently causing a lot of problems by their actions. I saw lofty goals and inner hypocrisy. Attempts to help people created levels of dependency in them. Efforts to make the world better for everyone, often only really making the world better for the already well-off who were contracted to make the world better. I became disillusioned. 

What's your advice for physicians on how to get more involved in issues that affect their profession?

Almost every politician I ever met I liked on a personal level. Many were good people trying to do a good job. When they gathered together in political parties things seemed to change. 

So, this is a weird way to explain why I am very supportive of the Wisconsin Medical Society's Political Action Committee (PAC). Our government runs our cities, state and country. We need to elect the best possible people to make our laws and policies. I rely on our Political Action Team to vet the candidates. We need to know which candidates of either party can help advance our vision of what needs to be done. We need the help of our talented professionals to communicate with our politicians to let our elected officials know how proposed laws may conflict with our policies and how to make the laws better, and to get us up to speed so that we can speak before our elected officials in order to inform them of what is important for the health of our state and country.

I like our WisMedDirect conduit in which I can direct my political contribution to the candidate of either party that I want to support.

I like the PAC function in which I trust our leadership to send support to the leadership of each party to gain their ears so that we have a way to let them know what the state's physicians and medical students think will help or hinder the health of our state. I personally hate to send money to a political party, but I realize one party is ruling the government now and the other will rule in the future. We need to keep lines of communication open with all of them. Our PAC allows me to do this without feeling bad about myself. 

So, open your wallet or purse and send money to our WisMedPAC. Channel any money to the candidates you support through the conduit so you and WisMedPAC gets credit and an ear of the candidate.

Send more money to the PAC to allow us to work in the imperfect world of governing our state and country. This will allow our professional staff to enter the sausage factory of politics in order to get our voices heard. They have hardened their stomach and their souls to work in the sausage factory allowing us of a more delicate constitution the ability to just enjoy the finished sausage. Enjoy your bratwurst.

Other than politics, what else interests you at the moment?

For fun I sing in the Madison Männerchor, a German choral group formed in 1852. We sing mostly German songs and taste German Bier periodically. We do occasionally discuss politics while drinking the German Bier – after all of the weapons have been locked up. 

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Year-end giving and tax planning

For charitable organizations, end of year fundraising is more important than ever in the time of the pandemic. Many not-for-profits, including the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation), have pivoted their work to better meet the needs of their communities, often leaving funding gaps. The Foundation is currently planning how many future physicians our community can support with student loans, scholarships, fellowships and MCAT study scholarships for students that are underrepresented in medicine. The Foundation also works to sponsor as many public health grants in Wisconsin’s communities as possible to improve health outside of our clinics and hospitals. Your end of year gift has a huge impact for next year and beyond.

The end of year campaign is something most not-for-profits count on to plan their impact and activities for the next year. The IRS has recognized the need for greater giving and this year allows a $300 individual/$600 joint deduction for charitable gifts even if one doesn’t itemize deductions.

There are still ways to give a larger gift with tax benefits. Mark Ziety from WisMed Financial shares some tips for using a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) for those who are 70 ½ or older as this typically provides the biggest tax break to donors. For those 72 or older a QCD also reduces the required minimum distribution dollar for dollar up to $100,000. Those who file with a QCD also get the deduction whether they itemize or not.

Using a QCD to support your favorite charity is simple. Funds are distributed from your pre-tax IRA directly to the charity by completing a distribution form or writing a check against the IRA. Confirm with an account custodian which method applies to your account. At the end of the year the custodian will produce a 1099-R. The custodian is not required to track charitable distributions vs. non-charitable distributions, so you will need to keep a record of your transactions along with the receipts from the charity. When your tax return is prepared, the amount on the 1099-R will be reported as the gross amount, but the taxable amount will factor in the QCD deduction. This lowers your adjusted gross income which reduces your taxable income and tax bill.

Most charities, including the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, can accept QCD donations. Those that cannot include donor-advised funds, private foundations and supporting organizations. Like other charitable gifts, the donor is prohibited from receiving a benefit in return for their gift.

For better understanding, the below example shows the tax savings for a married couple with $140,000 in gross income.

Notice that the $10,000 QCD provides a $2,200 benefit while the straight gift only qualifies for the maximum $600 deduction for all donations for the year. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law, few people see benefits by itemizing. The QCD provides a benefit without itemizing and will also provide a state tax benefit.

Wherever you give, thank you for supporting the work of not-for-profits everywhere. If you have any questions about supporting the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation in their mission to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin and support medical education, please contact Marje Murray 608.886.4276. For questions about WisMed Financial please contact Mark Ziety 608.442.3750. As always, contact your tax professional for your specific needs.

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Association Health Plan announces reduced rates for health insurance for groups

Since the Association Health Plan (AHP) was created in 2017 for Wisconsin Medical Society Members and their staff, the goal has been to reduce the cost of Employee Benefit contributions for physician practices. The AHP allows independent practices to come together and purchase as a larger group, which can mean better cost and greater plan options. WisMed Assure, the Society’s insurance agency, has assisted dozens of groups over the years in obtaining savings on their health insurance and other employee benefit premiums.

WisMed Assure is pleased to announce that for 2022 WPS, the insurance carrier for the AHP, has agreed to lower the Health Insurance Premium by a minimum of 10%, up to 40%, for eligible new groups!

The highly skilled, knowledgeable and responsive WisMed Assure team will be happy to review these saving opportunities with you and your group. Our agency works with nearly all insurance carriers in the state, and we offer insurance options you won’t find elsewhere.

Please contact Chris Noffke, GBDS, VP Employee Benefits, at 608.442.3734 to learn more about the Association Health Plan and how WisMed Assure can assist you and your group.

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Nominations open for 2022 Physician Citizen of the Year Award

The Wisconsin Medical Society is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Physician Citizen of the Year Award. First established by the Society in 1982, the award recognizes and encourages Wisconsin physicians who volunteer their time and talents through civic and cultural activities—helping to improve the health and well-being of their communities.

Consider nominating a friend, colleague or personal physician for this award. Click here to complete the nomination form. The nomination deadline is December 31, 2021.

2021 Physician Citizen of the Year Award recipient, Michelle Clark-Forsting, MD, was recognized during the June Board of Directors meeting. Dr. Clark-Forsting was selected for her extraordinary efforts but primarily her involvement in many community initiatives throughout her life. She leads by example by encouraging community members to provide meals for families struggling financially from the pandemic and providing education to stop the spread of COVID-19; organizing successful events like the Community Santa Event and the Cuddle Bear Drive; and developing the Hospice Teen Volunteer Program at the Black River Memorial Hospital. Her efforts were featured in the June 24, 2021 Medigram. Please share your congratulations with Dr. Clark-Forsting on WisMed Community.

Previous Physician Citizen of the Year recipients include Jose Ortiz, MD, of Eau Claire (2020); Kenneth Gold, MD, of Beloit (2019); Gloria Halverson, MD, of Milwaukee (2018); Paul Durbin, MD, of Racine and Tim Westlake, MD, of Oconomowoc (2017); Michael Ostrov, MD, MS, of Madison (2016); Steven Manson, MD, of La Crosse (2015); and Gordon Haugan, MD, of Green Bay. Click here for more information.

For more information, contact Noreen Krueger.

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Health Literacy Summit proposals due November 8

Please save the date for the Health Literacy Summit hosted by Wisconsin Health Literacy. The Summit will take place in-person on April 4-6, 2022 at The Edgewater in Madison, Wisconsin. This year’s theme is Embracing Health Literacy in the New Normal: Digital Communications, Telehealth, Health Insurance and Health Equity.

The deadline for breakout and poster presentation proposals has been extended to Monday, November 8, 2021. Please submit your proposals here.

Registration will open February 2022. Register before March 4, 2022 for the early bird rate:

• Early bird: $325 
• Standard: $375 

The Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit is the largest health literacy conference in the Midwest and provides the opportunity to share interventions, tools, and strategies to improve health communication and patient outcomes. Information on the 2019 Summit can be found here.

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