Board actions on policies ready for member feedback

PolicyLink is now open for member feedback on the WisMed Board of Directors actions on five policy proposals submitted for this cycle. Go to PolicyLink (you may need to sign in) and under the “Comment on Proposal” pulldown menu select “Vote on Board Action.”

The five policy proposals pertain to:

• Paid Family Leave Program in Wisconsin
• Increasing Healthcare Access for People Experiencing Homelessness in Wisconsin
• Using Risk Assessment for Equitable Criteria for Blood and Tissue Donations
• Recognizing the Importance of Rural Broadband Internet for Healthcare Access in Wisconsin
• Supporting Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Offices and Initiatives in Medical Schools and Healthcare Systems in Wisconsin

The feedback period runs through February 9. Contact WisMed’s Mark Grapentine if you have any questions.

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Health and Harmony: Great CME, Great Fun, Great Support for the Foundation

Health & Harmony is back! The feedback from last year was that guests had a great time and they wanted more. More wine to pull in the wine pull. More raffle prizes and chances. More time to visit with peers and have a good time. More dancing. More games. More CME. That’s the plan for Health & Harmony 2024 at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

We’ll kick things off on Friday, April 5 with registration beginning at 5:00 p.m. and the Annual Dinner where we will welcome Cynthia Hart, MD, as the new President of the Wisconsin Medical Society and celebrate several outstanding physician leaders, including the Superhero of Medicine, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Back by popular demand, we’ll have the wine pull and raffle, and we’re adding a dance floor, casino games and a golden ticket prize. The education conference will begin at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday and will focus on various physician wellness topics while allowing you to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

You’re not going to want to miss it. Click here to register for all or part of the Annual Event.

If you are interested in supporting the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation by donating an item for the raffle, please reach out to Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected]. We are looking for items or experiences that will excite attendees to buy raffle tickets. Please consider donating items such as tickets to a sporting event, theater event or getaways such as a cabin or vacation rental. If you have other ideas or questions about which items we are accepting, please reach out. All donations are tax deductible and will help the Foundation raise funds for our mission to increase health equity and access in Wisconsin by supporting medical education and research and community health programs championed by local physicians.

You can also help by donating to our wine pull. Guests will be able to purchase a ticket, pick a bag and get the mystery bottle of wine inside. It’s a fun way for guests to try a new wine and have the potential of winning a luxury wine for the small ticket price. If you are interested in donating a bottle of wine (or 2!), please reach out to Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see you there! 

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Peace of mind for the new year

The agents at WisMed Assure do not focus solely on revenue, they go that extra mile to address specific concerns and find coverage options within each customer’s budget. By putting clients’ needs first, our agents demonstrate their commitment to providing excellent service and building trust with physicians. Their expertise and attention to detail enables them to guide physicians through the complex world of insurance, explaining terms, conditions and benefits clearly and transparently. Ultimately, our agents strive to empower physicians with the knowledge and coverage necessary to protect their health and peace of mind.

As Martin Hurst, Insurance Service Representative, navigates his first year with WisMed Assure, the agency has prioritized providing him with direct training with our agents. Martin and agent Tom Strangstalien discussed Life and Disability policies and they recently reviewed disability quotes for a physician. Tom carefully considered the physician’s lifestyle, occupational practice and potential risks to tailor the policy to their unique needs.

Additionally, he broke down the various policy options, highlighting the specific benefits and limitations of each. He focused on the importance of comprehensive coverage that would provide adequate support if the physician ever faced a disability, without worry of the financial burden. After reviewing the quotes for this physician, he noted that the physician was concerned the monthly premium was exceeding their budget. This was to be expected as their initial meeting was to create the “ideal policy” without worrying about the premium cost. With this concern in mind Tom navigated to the riders page with the cost for each listed next to the rider and asked Martin what to keep or remove from the policy to reduce the overall cost. They went back and forth on keeping or removing certain riders, looked at 90- or 180-day elimination periods, possibly decreasing the time covered in relation to retirement age of 65 or 67, to see the impact this would have on premiums. At the end of the meeting, WisMed Assure was able to give this physician several options that had the potential of saving them $4,000 in monthly premiums. This is just one example of what each WisMed Assure agent does daily.

The WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial team is focused on building and maintaining relationships with clients, and always keeping the best interest of the client at the center of all they do. These real client stories help illustrate the WisMed difference. Contact us at 608.442.3810 or [email protected].

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

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

Originally posted in the Antidote December 11, 2023

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OnDemand CME – course availability ending soon

Last opportunity to explore these limited CME courses, grab the education before its gone!

As a medical professional, you may need to diagnose a wide variety of disorders, initiate treatment regimens and decide when specialist referral or emergency management and hospitalization are necessary – particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of rare or unusual clinical diseases or syndromes.

The Medical Mystery Tour webinar series covers current clinical information on the diagnosis and treatment of rare medical conditions such as Acute Lyme Disease, Spontaneous Bowel Rupture, Rare Fungal Infections including Blastomycosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

Click here for more information, courses available until June 30, 2024. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

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WisMed members recognized for health care leadership

Several Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members have recently been recognized for their dedication and leadership in health care.

Congratulations to Noel Deep, MD, MACP, American College of Physicians-WI Immediate Past Governor, on being elected to the American College of Physicians National Board of Regents! WisMed Past-President Dr. Deep has participated on numerous committees including the Board of Directors, Membership Committee, Finance Committee, JEDI Committee (current Co-chair), Strategic Policy Panel, WisMed Foundation Board and WisMed Foundation Executive Committee.

Dr. Deep commented, "I am incredibly grateful to serve our profession and our patients through this new role in the ACP. I am honored and look forward to contributing to the outstanding work and advocacy efforts of the ACP for the betterment of health care.”

Immediate Past-President of WisMed, Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, serves on the Council on Legislation, and is Co-Chair of the Reproductive Health Task Force and Chair of the Strategic Policy Panel. Dr. Molaska was named to Governor Evers’s new Taskforce on Healthcare Workforce Development. The task force brings together workforce, education, and health care professionals under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, MSN, MPH, RN, and includes Secretaries from the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Health Services. Dr. Molaska will be collaborating with other stakeholders from across the state to help expand our health care workforce so Wisconsinites can continue to access high quality health care.

 

Additionally, several WisMed members were honored by the Wisconsin Titan 100 which recognizes the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry for demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision and passion.

The event was held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and the following health care leaders were recognized:

Michelle Graham, MD – UnitedHealthCare / WisMed Board member
Ashwani Bhatia, MD – BayCare Clinic / WisMed member
John Raymond, MD – Medical College of Wisconsin / WisMed member
James Nelson – Fort HealthCare / WisMed member

Visit our social media to congratulate these health care leaders.

Your opinion is important! Please take a 2-minute survey about medication directions

The Wisconsin Medical Society is working with Wisconsin Health Literacy, a non-profit based in Madison, Wis. to make medication information easier to understand for patients. Wisconsin Health Literacy, a division of Wisconsin Literacy, works statewide to advance health equity through health literacy in organizations and communities.

Wisconsin Health Literacy has been working to improve the use of clearer medication directions for the past two years. Please take this 2-minute survey about medication directions and the Universal Medication Schedule (UMS), which uses ‘morning,’ ‘noon,’ ‘evening’ and ‘bedtime’ frequencies. The  survey will help Wisconsin Health Literacy determine current awareness, facilitators and barriers to UMS adoption. Thank you!

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Digital marketing discount for WisMed members

You can get a digital marketing or TV campaign tailored specifically to your needs & customers with the Wisconsin Medical Society’s (WisMed) preferred media vendor, WMSN-TV in Madison. Digital marketing is hyper-targeted and more efficient than ever. Discover the ways your practice can get in front of the perfect new customer.

As a WisMed member, there are no production fees – for a TV commercial, that’s a $2,500 value, including creative design and expert advice from health care industry marketing professionals.

Examples of campaigns:

• PSAs (vaccinations, community health initiatives, etc.)
• Clinic Advertisement (new location, services, etc.)
• General Awareness

Email Jim Lorence to take advantage of this offer.

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