The Wisconsin Neurological Society Articles

New BRAVE program treats veterans and first responders with traumatic brain injuries

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:59:44 GMT

The Medical College of Wisconsin, in partnership with the Avalon Action Alliance (Avalon), has recently launched the BRAVE program. BRAVE is a unique outpatient program that treats veterans and first responders who have acquired a brain injury at any point in their life. BRAVE is the first of its kind in the Midwest and one of only seven in the United States. It was founded by a generous gift from Avalon, a post-trauma, wellness non-profit organization that provides care for the “hidden wounds” carried by veterans, first responders and their families.

Participants in the BRAVE program receive treatment at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Greenfield Highlands Health Center. This program was specially designed for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the symptoms caused by an acquired brain injury. The program is offered at little to no cost to the participant and no qualified participant will be turned away due to current insurance or financial status. The program is meant to treat veterans and first responders of the Midwest and beyond, regardless of discharge status, veteran status, etc. or if their brain injury was medically reported.

The BRAVE Program is a branch of the Wisconsin Institute of Neuroscience (WINS), a collaboration of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, Children’s Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. BRAVE was designed to treat the invisible wounds of service and war, specifically Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the physical and mental health issues that result.

The BRAVE team is comprised of psychiatry and psychology to address mental and behavioral health; physical therapy for vestibular, balance and musculoskeletal pain and concerns; occupational therapy to address vision and activities of daily living; speech-language pathology to assess cognition (i.e. memory, thinking, planning) and language; as well as neurology, social work, case management, veteran/first responder outreach and care coordination to properly address all aspects of the patient’s concerns.

Due to a generous gift from the Avalon partnership that was established within the Avalon network, BRAVE can remove barriers to care (stigma, cost, silos of care, paperwork, logistics, etc.) while offering the veteran or first responder a unique and holistic approach to TBI treatment. The BRAVE Program consists of a 3-day comprehensive evaluation to develop a roadmap to care while identifying root causes to TBI symptoms. From there, an intensive outpatient treatment plan and classes can be tailored based on the patient’s needs and chosen goals. If additional services are identified through the evaluation process, (i.e. more intensive post-traumatic stress or in-patient substance abuse treatment is needed) BRAVE can complete internal referrals for treatment within the Avalon Action Alliance network at no additional cost to the client.

To learn more about the program, click here, visit the website, call 414.427.5370 or email BRAVE@mcw.edu. Click here to learn about Avalon's other programs.

Dr. Justin Sattin Receives Director Mentorship Leadership Program Award!

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:50:24 GMT

Congratulations to Dr. Justin Sattin on receiving the Director Mentorship Leadership Program Award from the AAN!

Job Posting - Aspirus Health - Neurologist - Wausau, WI

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:12:53 GMT

Aspirus Healthis currently seeking a skilled and dedicated Neurologist to join our team in Wausau, WI. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a well-established and respected healthcare organization while having the opportunity to build a practice!

The Ideal Candidate:

Experience in general neurology, including the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of neurological disorders such as movement disorders, epilepsy, MS, migraine, memory, stroke, myasthenia gravis, and more.
Experience with EMGs and Botox is preferred.
BC/BE candidate.
New graduates are encouraged to apply!

Clinic hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00a-5:00p, with no call and outreach opportunities available to Rhinelander and Stevens Point.

We offer a comprehensive compensation package that includes:

Competitive compensation including potential for residency/fellowship stipend, loan repayment, and signing bonus
Generous CME with paid time off
Excellent PTO benefits
100% malpractice coverage
Options for retirement plan including 403(b) and 457(b)
Relocation assistance up to $15,000

ASPIRUS HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS:

Aspirus Health serves communities throughout upper Michigan and Wisconsin with 17 hospitals, 75 clinics, home health, hospice care, air-medical transport, and a broad network of physicians.
Aspirus Health is committed to being economically, socially, and environmentally responsible.
Non-profit health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Dedicated to delivering high-quality care to rural communities.

To apply or learn more, visit www.aspirus.org/our-careers

Job Posting - Aspirus Health - Neurohospitalist - Wausau, WI

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:11:28 GMT

Aspirus Health is seeking a Neurohospitalist to join our highly collaborative and busy team in Wausau, Wisconsin. Aspirus Wausau Hospital is a level 2 trauma center supporting all of our 17-Hospitals in North Central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

7 days on/7 days off, 24/7 call schedule
Strictly inpatient position
Higher acuity/complex patients, including stroke, TBI, and patients who have experienced brain death
Physician will have an APC partner
Physician will be supported by our experienced Hospitalist and Neurology groups
Physician must be interested in working with stroke patients
This is not a visa eligible opportunity

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Competitive compensation, potential for residency/fellowship stipend, loan repayment, and signing bonus
Generous CME money and time allowance
208 hours of PTO during initial guarantee period
100% malpractice coverage
Options for retirement plan including 403(b) and 457(b)
Relocation assistance up to $15,000

Area Highlights:

Variety of year-round activities throughout the year, including: snowmobiling, skiing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, festivals, farmer’s markets, theater, and a thriving art scene
Lively, farm-to-table, community-sourced dining scene
A normal commute is 10-15 minutes from any part of town
High performing school districts in the area with over 60 schools from public to private to choose from
Close proximity to Central Wisconsin Airport with direct flights to O'Hare International Airport, Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

ABOUT ASPIRUS HEALTH:

We heal people, promote health, and strengthen communities.

Aspirus Health serves communities throughout upper Michigan and Wisconsin with 17 hospitals, 75 clinics, home health, hospice care, air-medical transport, and a broad network of physicians
Aspirus Health is committed to being economically, socially, and environmentally responsible.
Non-profit health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin
Dedicated to delivering high-quality care to rural communities

To apply or learn more, visit www.aspirus.org/our-careers

Dr. Ahmed Obeidat Named to List of Notable Heroes in Health Care by BizTimes Milwaukee

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 21:17:01 GMT

Milwaukee, Dec. 14, 2022 – Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and WNS Member, has been honored by BizTimes Milwaukee and named to its list of Notable Heroes in Health Care in southeastern Wisconsin. This list highlights the accomplishments of people and organizations making a positive difference on the front lines of health care in the area.

Dr. Obeidat works with adults in diagnosing, treating, and managing multiple sclerosis (MS) and immune disorders of the central nervous system. His research at MCW focuses on advancing the understanding of what causes MS, as well as improving the efficacy and safety of current therapeutics. Dr. Obeidat was awarded a clinical care fellowship by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the National MS Society - Wisconsin Chapter. Dr. Obeidat is also an author on nearly 40 scientific articles in his field.

The full list of Notable Heroes in Health Care is featured in the December 12 issue of BizTimes Milwaukee, as well as online.

Doctors' groups argue courts shouldn't compel providers to administer ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:53:01 GMT

Wisconsin Health News
December 12, 2022

Two doctors’ groups filed a brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court last week arguing that courts shouldn’t compel physicians to provide the antiparasitic drug ivermectin as a COVID-19 intervention.

The American Medical Association and Wisconsin Medical Society asked that the court uphold an appeals court ruling earlier this year that found no legal authority to compel private healthcare providers to administer treatments that they have determined are below the standard of care.

The ruling came in a case brought by Allen Gahl, whose uncle was placed on a ventilator in October 2021 while hospitalized at Aurora Medical Center-Summit with COVID-19.

Gahl obtained a prescription for ivermectin for his uncle, but the hospital staff declined to provide it after deeming the medication below the standard of care. Gahl sued, which led a Waukesha County Court to initially order that the hospital provide his uncle with the drug.

The hospital appealed, and the Waukesha County judge later revised his order to require that the healthcare facility let Gahl find a doctor outside the hospital to administer ivermectin to his uncle. However, an appeals court put a hold on that order.

In their brief, the American Medical Association and Wisconsin Medical Society wrote that most studies investigating ivermectin haven’t found it to be an effective COVID-19 treatment. The consensus view is, apart from clinical trials, it shouldn’t be used to treat the illness, they noted.

They wrote that the hospital met its legal and ethical duties by treating the patient with an “evidence-based protocol” that did not include the drug and that the Wisconsin Supreme Court should affirm the court of appeals' ruling.

"Holding otherwise would allow courts to compel treatments that the medical consensus finds to be substandard,” they wrote. “That outcome forces Wisconsin's physicians to choose between the law and their ethical duties, potentially exposing patients to harm and physicians to liability.”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in September, with the plaintiff in the case arguing that the appeals court acted in error and that its decision “left a wake of confusion with citizens regarding the right to request to receive ivermectin.”

Suicide and crisis lifeline now available

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:00:30 GMT

Wisconsin Medical Society
July 21, 2022

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Lifeline), a free, confidential behavioral health and support line is now available. Anyone can utilize the Lifeline at any time by calling 988 (multiple languages available), texting a message to 988 (English only), or using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only). People can connect with a trained crisis counselor to get help for themselves or a loved one experiencing a crisis, such as is thoughts of suicide, a mental health concern, substance use issue or any kind of emotional distress.

Additional details about the Lifeline:

Wisconsin Lifeline counselors are trained to reduce stress, provide emotional support and connect people with local resources.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available to use at no cost to Wisconsin residents. Additional care or intervention may come with a cost.
Wisconsin Lifeline is not able to send an in-person response directly. An in-person response requires a transfer to another service and could involve law enforcement.
Calls, texts and chats with Wisconsin Lifeline are confidential between the person and counselor, unless there is imminent danger for the person or others.

Jerry Halverson, MD, DFAPA, WisMed Board Chair and Rogers Behavioral Health Chief Medical Officer, told Fox6, "The purpose of 988 is to help you get over that crisis point, and get you someone that can help you more definitively. This is going to open up access to a lot of people who wouldn’t have taken advantage in the past. It can be a game-changer."

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a network of more than 200 support centers around the country. Contacts not answered by in-state partners roll over to a national backup system. The Wisconsin Lifeline has helped ensure that as many contacts as possible are answered by Wisconsin-based counselors who have the best understanding of local communities, cultures and resources.

Learn more about Lifeline here.

WNS Signs onto Long COVID Letter

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 15:58:46 GMT

WNS joins 75 other other organizations by signing onto a letter urging Congress to explore the issue of "Long COVID". Read the full letter here.

Now Accepting Applications for the 2022 Bennett Hiner Research Award

Maggie Gruennert — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 20:03:32 GMT

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified applicants are:

Medical students enrolled in either the Medical College of Wisconsin or the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Graduate and allied health students who have completed neuroscience research within two years of the application for the award.
Have demonstrated leadership experience while enrolled in medical school or graduate programs.

Learn more & Apply

2021 WNS Virtual Annual Conference Recap

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:52:18 GMT

WNS held the 2021 Virtual Annual Conference on Saturday, October 16th. The Conference was held virtually and drew attendees and exhibitors from across the state. Dr. Amber Ebert, Coram Consulting, LLC kicked off the meeting with an Dementia Intro, Memory Changes: What's Normal?. A great lineup of speakers filled the day on including a sessions on Alzheimer's Therapeutics, Radiographic Testing for Parkinson's Disorder and a quick hitter session on Three New Things in Neurodegenerative Diseases with updates on REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, ALS, and Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Charlene Gamaldo from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep Wellness joined us for a keynote presentation on Sleep: The ultimate Example of Neuro Protection. The day wrapped up with the always popular Francis M. Forster Awards and the Annual Business meeting. Thank you to all of our presenters, attendees and exhibitors who were able to join us!

Save the Date for the 2022 Annual Conference
October 14-15, 2022
Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Welcome to the new WNS Board Members!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:48:42 GMT

WNS is pleased to announce the incoming Board of Directors for 2022-2023!

President
Dominic Fee, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI

President-Elect
Timothy Young, MD
Mayo Clinic Health System
Eau Claire, WI

Vice President
Aaron Struck, MD
University of WI - Department of Neurology
Madison, WI

Immediate Past President
Donn Dexter, MD
Mayo Clinic Health System
Eau Claire, WI

Secretary/Treasurer
Kathleen Shannon, MD
University of WI - Department of Neurology
Madison, WI

CME Director
Jessica Baker, MD
University of WI - Department of Neurology
Madison, WI

Thank You to our Outgoing Board Members!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:48:00 GMT

Thank you to the outgoing board members; Dr. Jennifer Connelly (CME Chair) and Dr. Doug Dulli (Immediate Past President). Thank you for your service and leadership to the board, WNS and to neurology in Wisconsin!

A special thank you for Dr. Donn Dexter for leading the WNS as President in two of the most difficult years. He lead us through the pandemic and two virtual conference. Thank you for your leadership!

Bennett Hiner Research Award Winners Announced at WNS Annual Meeting

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:47:31 GMT

During the WNS Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, October16 the Annual Bennett Hiner Research Award Winners were announced. This award is in memory of Bennett Hiner, son of long-time Society member Dr. Bradley Hiner. Bennett passed away unexpectedly in November of 2011. He was a leader in his medical school class at the University of Southern California and actively involved in neuroscience research.

2021 Winner

Mokshal Porwal - Medical College of Wisconsin

Reported Adverse Events and Safety for Multiple Sclerosis Disease Modifying Therapies

2021 Runners-up

Margaret Lieb - Medical College of Wisconsin

Challenges and Potential in Targeted Muscle Reinnervation in Pediatric Amputees

Samira Samant - Medical College of Wisconsin

Prognosticating ALS: The Predictive Value of C9orf72 Mutations and FVC in Disease Progression

Congratulations to all!

2021 Francis M. Forster Awards Competition Results

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:47:02 GMT

Each year the Francis M. Forster Award is presented are during the WNS Annual Meeting. Residents and fellows submit their abstracts to their Residency Program Director and a maximum of two abstracts are then selected from each institution (MCW and UW) for presentation at the meeting. The content of the presentations can be either in house research under faculty guidance or interesting cases. Congratulations to the following.

Best Presentation

William Pennant, MD, MSc
Looking Under the Rock: Door-to-Needle Experience at a Single Institution

Runners up

Mehraveh Garjani, MD, MS
A Case of Progressive Lower Extremity Weakness

Hiu Li, MD
Pediatric Neurology

Registration Now Open for the 2022 AAN Annual Meeting!

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:35:47 GMT

Registration Now Open for the 2022 AAN Annual Meeting!

Get ready to reunite in person with your neurology community at the 2022 Annual Meeting’s Great Neuro Reunion April 2–7 in Seattle! Join us for a fresh lineup of top-tier education opportunities in every topic, all the valuable CME you need, the most cutting-edge science covering every subspecialty, and the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues from around the world.

LEARN MORE

Can’t Make It to Seattle? Reunite Virtually!

The exciting Annual Meeting virtual experience will take place April 24–26 and offer a completely unique lineup of programming separate from the in-person meeting—plus access to session recordings through May 14, 2022. Learn more.

WNS Signs on to Support H.R. 3173

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:49:12 GMT

WNS signs on to support H.R. 3173, The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act 2021.

This legislation would streamline the prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage and increase transparency. It has become one of, if not the most broadly bipartisan, broadly supported health care bills on Capitol Hill. This legislation was recently reintroduced and already has over 100 cosponsors, but it is important that WNS show support to ensure it crosses the finish line in the 117th Congress. A summary of the bill, it’s current endorsers, and more can be found on the Regulatory Relief Coalition website, of which the AAN is a member.  

2021 WNS Exhibitor Prospectus Now Available!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:34:37 GMT

2021 WNS Annual Conference | October 15-16, 2021

Exhibitor Prospectus Now Available!

WNS is excited to be back in-person and we are excited to see you in Wisconsin Dells! This year’s meeting will offering high-quality education to neurologists while at the same time offering product representatives an opportunity to interact with health care providers in a relaxed atmosphere. All precautions will be followed according to the recommended guidelines of the CDC and the Kalahari to ensure our attendees feel safe and remain healthy!

View the Full Exhibitor Prospectus Here

Exhibit Information:
$1,000 non-profit organizations/ $1,500 profit organizations

Included in your exhibit display

8’ skirted table with two chairs and electricity if requested. Two representatives allowed per space. If more than two representatives wish to attend, additional registration badges may be purchased. Additional badges are $60 each which covers expenses for additional staff participation in conference meals and breaks.
Non-competitive exhibitor viewing times.
Roster of attendees distributed at the time of the meeting.
Complimentary meals and refreshments during exhibit hours.
Inclusion in the exhibitor listing on the WNS website and program.
Attendance at Friday evening reception.

Confirm your Spot Today!

Premium holiday for state’s medical malpractice fund to last until June 2022

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:24:40 GMT

April 6, Wisconsin Health News

The premium holiday for Wisconsin’s medical malpractice fund will continue until mid-2022 to help offset impacts on providers from COVID-19.

Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable notified the Joint Finance Committee last week that he’s requesting that fiscal year 2022 rates for healthcare providers participating in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund remain the same as the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The committee has until April 15 to approve the request. Currently, the fund is waiving fees for participating healthcare professionals and providers, per a request from the Wisconsin Medical Society. The premium holiday is set to last until June 30, 2022.

OCI spokeswoman Sarah Smith said that the rates will remain the same because the fund won’t be charging due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Grapentine, chief policy and advocacy officer at the Wisconsin Medical Society, said independent clinics are still fighting COVID-19 related costs and lost revenue and keeping the status quo for now makes sense.

“We’re doing all we can to advocate for those independent clinics who provide such important care to their communities while being on the front lines of the pandemic,” he said in an email. “We’re very fortunate to have a fund that’s run prudently and is in a stable financial condition so that it can provide a little fiscal relief for physicians.”

The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund covers claims beyond state-mandated insurance limits, which are set at $1 million by occurrence and $3 million by aggregate annually.

Doctor Day 2021 to include timely breakout sessions

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 01:52:44 GMT

Join your colleagues (virtually) for Doctor Day on May 5, 2021 to fight for your patients, profession and sound health care policy. Doctor Day 2021 will include morning breakout sessions on health equity, public health and the latest legal issues facing physicians so you can customize the day to your interests. Organizers are once again lining up presentations from premier experts and policymakers. The schedule features three breakout sessions:

Health Equity
What are we doing to achieve long-lasting and equitable health outcomes for ALL Wisconsinites? The State of Wisconsin has an overall health disparities grade of “D” according to a recent University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Health of Wisconsin Report Card. The Report Card notes that while Wisconsin's grade for overall health has remained the same since 2007, the health disparities grade has worsened since 2010. What are we doing to change this?

Public Health
Join us for an outbreak session on local public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson will provide an overview of the challenges and successes Wisconsin's local public health departments faced throughout the last 12 months. As fellow frontline workers, local public health officers have experienced this crisis through the lens of both health care and governmental response to public health crises.

Legal Update
The always popular and pertinent legal update will explore the latest “hot topics” physicians need to know about. Axley attorneys Guy DuBeau and Aneet Kaur will walk us through the landscape of litigation trends, scope of practice developments and more.

To learn more about this virtual day of advocacy, go to widoctorday.org to register (it’s free) and see the day’s agenda.

MEB approves prescribing CME requirement extension; begins work on potential chaperone rule

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 01:52:23 GMT

The State of Wisconsin’s Medical Examining Board (MEB) at its most recent monthly meeting advanced a proposed administrative rule that will extend for another biennium the requirement that most physicians obtain two credits of continuing education related to opioid prescribing. The requirement applies to physicians who hold a Drug Enforcement Administration registration number, with the two credits being part of the 30 credits required each biennium. Courses must be approved by the MEB in order to satisfy the subject matter requirement.

The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) spoke in favor of the rule at the MEB public hearing March 17, noting how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated opioid abuse across the county. The Society also expressed appreciation that the rule widens the scope of qualifying coursework beyond opioid prescribing to include “other controlled substances.” This will allow physicians who hold a DEA number but may not prescribe opioids to access coursework more relevant to their practice.

The MEB also began to discuss whether to add a provision to the “unprofessional conduct” section of the MEB’s administrative code (MED 10) that could require physicians to offer patients a chaperone for certain sensitive physical exams. The idea comes from a January 2020 ACOG Community Opinion paper recommending that a chaperone be present for all breast, genital and rectal examinations. While the MEB discussed the issue only generally during its meeting March 17, it will review potential language at its April meeting.

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

Huntington Study Group (HSG) Town Hall for Healthcare Providers - Clinical Trials for Huntington Disease

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 19:11:47 GMT

This webinar is for healthcare providers that may be seeing or treating patients, or have colleagues treating patients with Huntington's disease. Learn more about HD and current HSG clinical trials enrolling participants for HD treatments in North America.

The first 1-hour webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5:30 pm EST / 2:30 pm PST.

Attendance is free through Zoom. We just ask that participants sign up in advance using the registration link below.

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR --> https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G2_GsYaYSSmnNzGw-33DcQ

The HSG is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit whose mission is to educate and raise awareness about Huntington disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 40,000 people in the United States. Another 200,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to be at risk for developing symptoms. The HSG also advises and conducts clinical research focused exclusively on HD.

Our hope is that by providing these educational webinars, we can enhance HD specific care, awareness, and HD community participation in clinical research. We are striving to inform HCPs about current clinical trials focused on potential treatments that make a difference for HD patients and families struggling with this devastating disease.

COVID-19 liability protections signed into law

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:35:38 GMT

Governor Tony Evers signed legislation into law earlier this morning that provides civil liability protection against opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. Under the new law, entities such as physician offices will be immune from civil liability for harm related to someone’s exposure to SARS-CoV-2, unless the entity engaged in reckless or wanton conduct or intentional misconduct.

The bill was January 2021 Special Session Senate Bill 1, which the State Senate approved Feb. 18 on a bipartisan 27-3 vote and was unanimously approved in the State Assembly on Tuesday. It is now 2021 Wisconsin Act 4. The lawsuit protection begins for any incidents from March 1, 2020 or later, but does not affect any official claims that have already been filed.

“Protecting physicians and their clinics from unscrupulous lawyers looking for an easy payday has been one of the Society’s priorities this winter,” Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA said. “While it’s extremely difficult to determine where someone was exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, that doesn’t stop some people from trying to make a quick buck at a physician’s expense by claiming their client caught the virus at a medical facility.

“That’s not acceptable, and the Society wasn’t going to let that happen,” Dr. Chumbley said.

The Wisconsin Medical Society is a founding member of the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) – a tort reform watchdog entity that includes a variety of advocacy groups like the Society. The WCJC was the driving force ensuring these protections were enacted.

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

WI Doctor Day Announces Opening Keynote Address

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:05:42 GMT

WI Doctor Day Announces Opening Keynote Address
Featuring AMA President, Susan R. Bailey MD

Dr. Susan R. Bailey, a distinguished allergist/immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, is the 175th president of the American Medical Association. Doctor Bailey's presentation, What Will Healthcare Look Like Post COVID-19?, will touch on delivery of care, rebounding from physician stress, and the impact of the pandemic on the physician workforce.

COVID-19 buttons to spark patient conversations via WisMed and Pharmacy Society partnership

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:30:24 GMT

Wisconsin Medical Society members can get free Stop the Spread buttons. In an effort to encourage conversations with patients about healthy COVID-19 behaviors and vaccine hesitancy, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s COVID-19 Task Force developed a button that can be worn by physicians and other members of the health care team to help spark those conversations. Through a partnership with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, buttons were produced and are currently being distributed around the state.

Buttons are free to Society members, but there is a limited quantity, so requests will be filled in the order they are received. Click here to order for you and your team today!

COVID-19 PSA

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:29:56 GMT

Wisconsin Medical Society President, Erik Gundersen, MD, MA, is featured in a COVID-19 PSA. In addition to reminding patients of the basic safety precautions of masking, physical distancing and handwashing, Dr. Gundersen encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.

To help encourage timely vaccinations, please feel free to share the PSA which can be found on the Wisconsin Medical Society’s social media channels.

Doctor Day to Feature JFC Panel on State Budget

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:47:56 GMT

While Doctor Day 2021 has shifted to a virtual format, the May 5^th event promises to offer equally important hot topics and content.

This year’s policy and politics panel will include members of the powerful budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance. Committee co-chairs Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) will be joined by their Democrat colleagues Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point).

You will hear a first-hand account of important budget topics, and during the middle of budget negotiations. This includes policy related to the Department of Health Services and funding for the Medicaid Program. This is a great opportunity to hear differing views on policy and spending priorities for the 2021-23 Biennial Budget and current legislative session.

Other components of the day will again include policy breakouts, priority issue briefings, a keynote presentation and of course, legislative visits.

Whether you’ve attended many advocacy days in prior years or none at all, be sure to sign up for Doctor Day 2021 and make your voices heard! The unique multi-specialty nature of Wisconsin's Doctor Day offers all physicians across the state from all specialties to come together and advocate for issues affecting their patients, their practices and their specialty. Learn more and sign up at www.WIDoctorDay.org.

News Story from Alexion - Upcoming Program: The Role of Complement in Adult Patients with Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR) Antibody Positive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 15:32:56 GMT

On Tuesday, February 9th at 5:30pm PST/6:30pm MST/7:30pm CST/8:30pm EST, Dr. Suraj Muley, will present “The Role of Complement in Adult Patients with Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR) Antibody Positive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG).”

Click Here for the Event Flyer

Suraj Muley, MD

Director, Neuromuscular Program,
Barrow Neurological Institute

Professor of Neurology,
The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix

If you are interested and available to attend, please register with the link below:

Registration link:

https://alexion.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_30voipOyTp-ZoJZ-OmX5cw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Feel free to share this opportunity with colleagues as appropriate. Call-in spots are limited, so please respond quickly.

This news story was provided by Alexion

WNS Announces: Neurological Complications from COVID-19 | Virtual Program

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 18:49:49 GMT

WNS Announces: Neurological Complications from COVID-19 | Virtual Program

Save the Date
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
6:00pm-8:00pm

Join the Wisconsin Neurological Society for a program covering the practical complications neurologists are seeing from COVID-19. The first hour will cover acute complications and the second hour will cover long-term consequences. The program will be held virtually so no need to plan for travel!

The program is Free for Residents, $25 for WNS Members and $50 for non-members. Not a member? Join today to receive a discount!

Registration will open in January!

Financial lunch and learn sessions

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:59:14 GMT

Put the major financial pieces in place for your future by joining one or all of the lunch and learn classes hosted by WisMed Financial. The Retirement Readiness series is focused on decisions for those near or in retirement. Financial Planning 101 provides a good knowledge base for anyone. All of the sessions start at noon. To register please visit wismedfinancial.org/lunch-learn.

Retirement Readiness
12/3 Wills, estate documents and charitable giving
12/10 Replacing the paycheck with investments and smart tax planning
12/17 Health insurance, Medicare and long-term care

Financial Planning 101
12/1 Saving for retirement and kids’ college
12/8 Building an investment portfolio
12/15 Smart tax strategies, life and disability insurance

To learn more or for questions, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® of WisMed Financial, Inc.

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®
WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society

COVID-19 Risk Chart to share with your patients

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:58:58 GMT

The current rise in COVID-19 cases has shown that a significant portion of the general public remains unsure about activities that put them more at risk for catching the underlying virus despite widespread information about COVID-19. To help inform your patients, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s (Society) COVID-19 Task Force has created this downloadable display that you can use when talking with your patients, have on display in your examining rooms, lobby or other areas where patients may see it or give to your patients at discharge.

The Society’s COVID-19 Task Force meets every other week to discuss the latest issues related to the pandemic and strategize on ways to support physicians and better educate the public. Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD with any questions or suggestions.

WMS continues statewide push for smart COVID-19 behaviors

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:57:54 GMT

Building off of Governor Tony Evers’s November 18 announcement that he will declare another public health emergency and extend the face coverings order through mid-January 2021, the Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) called on the state to help protect physicians and other health care staff in the face of a growing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every day, more Wisconsin physicians... are personally affected by the pandemic, and that means hospital capacities are even more strained,” Society President Erik Gundersen, MD, said in a press statement provided to the state’s media outlets. “Everyone in Wisconsin needs to rally around what can attack this pandemic.

“If we all do this, we can save lives,” Gundersen said.

As various gubernatorial orders have been challenged in the state’s courts as an overreach of executive branch power, Wisconsin’s COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise – dragging hospitalizations and ICU bed usage numbers along with them. Combined with more health care staff succumbing to the virus itself or quarantining due to exposure, dramatic action is needed to help stave off even worse overall outcomes.

“The Society is continuing to call for all private and public entities to help fight the pandemic and protect our heroic health care workforce,” Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA, said. “Physicians can lead the way in urging our communities to put politics aside and do the things that we know make a difference: wash hands, wear masks and stay home.

“The Society will continue to use all of its means to help physicians during the pandemic,” Dr. Chumbley said. “And that includes urging the public to step up for their physicians and the communities they serve.”

As the holiday season approaches – and as COVID-19 cases continue to rise at alarming rates – the Society’s COVID-19 Task Force created this downloadable display that can be used when talking with patients, as a display in examining rooms, lobbies or other areas where patients may see it or give to patients at discharge. Additionally, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) produced an informational piece about how to celebrate the holidays safely.

Physicians can access the Society’s COVID-19 Resources page for additional tools that can help them educate the public about smart COVID-19 behaviors and other information.

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

NEW! 3-Year Membership Renewal Option!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 17:50:42 GMT

2021 Membership Renewal is now open with the added option to renew for 3-Years! 3-year Renewals will remain active until December 31, 2023 and receive a $10 discount!

Click here to Join or Renew!

WNS signs to endorse H.R. 8505

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 19:11:25 GMT

WNS joins the AAN and other state neurosocieties in signing a letter that endorses H.R. 8505. The legislation would fix the payment reductions in the physician fee schedule (PFS) by providing a one-time, one-year COVID-19 relief payment adjustment for all services. This bill is being led by Reps. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) and Bobby Rush (D-IL). The letter also highlights how this approach is more fair than the Bera-Bucshon legislation H.R. 8702, which the AAN has opposed.

Read the full letter here.

Today is Election Day!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:11:20 GMT

Today is election day! Make a final plan to be sure your vote is counted in this election. Go to www.myvote.wi.gov for final voting day options. #VoteSafeWI2020

2020 Bennett Hiner Research Award Winner Announced

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:53:07 GMT

Congratulations to the 2020 Bennett Hiner Research Award Winner, John Feemster, Medical Student at the Medical College of Wisconsin - Central Wisconsin Campus.

Click here to read more

2020 Francis M. Forster Award Winner Announced

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:52:14 GMT

Congratulations to the 2020 Francis M. Forster Award Winner
Sepi Chagharvand, MD

The Francis M. Forster Award was presented during the WNS Virtual Conference on Saturday, October 24th. Dr. Sepi Chagharvand, Dr. Vishal Pandya, Dr. Ben Mixis, and Dr. Ruchi Dhyani, all Resident/ Fellow WNS members presented their abstracts and the winner was selected by a majority vote by all participating WNS Members.

Congratulations to all who participated!

Win an Amazon Gift Card!

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:39:39 GMT

Visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall to show your appreciation of our sponsors and exhibitors. Learn about the products, services, positions, and more that is offered by our partners.
Follow the instructions for a chance to win an Amazon gift card:

Visit the Exhibit Booths in the WNS Virtual Exhibit Hall.
Connect with Contacts listed in each exhibit booth by email or phone.
Complete the form by registering and be entered into a drawing for one of two Amazon gift cards!

Two winners will be drawn at the end of November!

WNS Virtual Conference Recording Available for Free CME!

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:38:06 GMT

Did you miss the WNS Virtual Conference? Credits are available for Free for WNS Members until October 2021. For access to the recordings please register below. Non-members registration is $50.

Register Here!

Early and in-person voting in WI is now Open!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:59:29 GMT

October 20th is the beginning of early and in-person voting here in Wisconsin. Be sure to bring an ID and double check your local voting hours at https://myvote.wi.gov before you go.

Find more about voting safely at https://www.wpha.org/mpage/VoteSafeWisconsin2020
@WIPublicHealth #VoteSafeWI2020

TODAY is the last day to register to vote online!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:14:57 GMT

TODAY is the last day to register to vote online. You can then receive your ballot by mail or vote early in the upcoming election! Voting absentee and returning by mail or drop-off is the best way to exercise your right to vote while also staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Register and request your absentee ballot here: https://myvote.wi.gov.

Find more about voting safely at https://www.wpha.org/mpage/VoteSafeWisconsin2020 @WIPublicHealth #VoteSafeWI2020

WNS Joins Vote Safe WI 2020 Coalition!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 13:23:49 GMT

WNS has joined the Vote Safe Wisconsin 2020 Coalition!

We are committed to sharing with our community partners about encouraging safe voting! We encourage you to vote absentee, early, or with a mask and social distance at the polls!

Join us and learn more: https://www.wpha.org/mpage/VoteSafeWisconsin2020.

WI Medical Society Virtual trivia – October 8

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:07:03 GMT

Join your fellow Wisconsin Medical Society members for a virtual WisMed Meet Up! Trivia nights provide an opportunity to connect with your peers across the state from the comfort of your home.

The Society will create trivia teams, or you are welcome to invite colleagues to create a team of your own by emailing Jess. (Maximum of 4 people per team).

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2020
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Register here!

Gift cards will be awarded to the winning team! Please contact our Membership Specialist at jessica.schreiter@wismed.org with any questions.

Thanks to Exact Sciences for sponsoring this member exclusive event!

WI Medical Society's COVID-19 Task Force asks physicians to review DHS alert on antigen testing

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:06:36 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society’s (Society) COVID-19 Task Force recommends that Wisconsin physicians review a COVID-19 Health Alert on antigen testing issued today, September 24, by the state’s Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

Calling this testing an “important and evolving topic,” DHS Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for Communicable Diseases Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH, provides important information regarding various aspects of this type of testing, including considerations for using antigen tests in symptomatic vs. asymptomatic patients, the characteristics of the antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 currently available and a list of antigen tests currently authorized for use in the U.S.

The Society’s COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet biweekly as Wisconsin battles the pandemic, and regularly updates relevant information on the Society’s COVID-19 Resources webpage.

Contact Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA with any questions for the COVID-19 Task Force.

Medical Examining Board concerned over possible proposal to change nursing collaboration requirement

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:06:14 GMT

Many physician members of the state’s Medical Examining Board (MEB) raised concerns at its monthly meeting on September 16 over a potential Board of Nursing (BON) proposal that would repeal a requirement that Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNP) work in collaboration with at least one physician or dentist. While the MEB does not have jurisdiction over how nurses are regulated, numerous MEB members were concerned that such a proposal would have negative impacts on Wisconsin’s high-quality health care system.

The MEB’s concerns rose from a BON meeting on Sept. 10, which included initialization of the process used to change the administrative code: preparing a proposed “Scope Statement” laying out the desired change. The specific scope statement proposal, which requires approval from the Governor before it can be developed further, was included in yesterday’s MEB agenda for discussion.

State MEB administrative staff indicated that the BON may be withdrawing or further modify the scope statement and said a BON subcommittee will be discussing the issue Sept. 18. The Society will attend that subcommittee meeting and has already been in contact with other physician-centric advocacy organizations to ensure all are aware of the possible attempt to alter the collaboration requirement.

In other action, the MEB unanimously approved its own scope statement for a regulatory update that would extend the current requirement for physicians holding a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration number to complete controlled substance education as part of the 30 hour biennial license requirement.

That statement will now be sent to the Governor for review; the Board will further develop the rule following the Governor’s likely approval.

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

As Governor extends statewide mask order, the Society urges proactive public behaviors

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:05:51 GMT

As Governor Tony Evers declared a new public health emergency and issued a new face covering mandate on September 22 due to increases in the state’s COVID-19 case rate, the Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) took the opportunity to remind the public how they can take proactive measures to help reduce the spread of the virus, regardless of any government action related to the pandemic.

In a media statement sent statewide the afternoon of the Governor’s announcement, Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA, emphasized how mask wearing, physical distancing and regular hand washing are proven effective strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19. “If we all agree to take simple steps, we can reduce the spread of the pandemic and protect our state’s physical and economic health,” Dr. Chumbley said in the statement. “We strongly urge everyone to wear masks, maintain social distancing and continue to wash hands often and thoroughly,” Dr. Chumbley said. The statement also emphasized that with seasonal influenza season looming, getting a flu vaccination is another action individuals can take that helps protect themselves and the public.

The statement is the latest in a series of actions the Society has taken to help remind the public of their important role in helping stem community spread, including three public service announcements that have been aired on statewide television and on the Society’s various social media channels.

Contact Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

Submit your Abstract for the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:16:34 GMT

Submit your breakthrough research to the best platform for getting your work noticed by your neurology peers from around the globe—the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting, set for April 17 through 22.

Click here for Additional Information & to Submit!

PSA reminds Wisconsinites not to delay care

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:01:54 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) and the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) have partnered to produce a public service announcement (PSA) campaign, “Stay healthy, Wisconsin,” with the primary goal of getting Wisconsinites who have delayed care to see their health care team. The Society and WNA produced digital, print and—with the help of WMSN FOX 47 News, Madison—video announcements.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin clinics and hospitals saw a dramatic decrease in patient visits, which consequently, created an increase in patients missing routine wellness visits, preventive screenings and visits to monitor chronic conditions.

Click here to view the PSA

Discounted PPE for WisMed members

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:01:38 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is very pleased to announce that effective immediately Society Members will receive a 5% discount on all PPE orders! For orders placed without a Society Membership ID, the Society will receive in-kind product that the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation will distribute to Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers.

To receive the 5% discount:

Visit our website
In the Coupon Code section, enter WMS and your Member ID
For your Member ID, please contact the Society at 800.762.8975 or membership@wismed.org or log in to the Society's website and click 'my account'

If you are not a member of the Society and would like to join and qualify for the discount, please contact membership@wismed.org or 800.762.8975.

Please continue to order PPE via our website for continued updates on what the Wisconsin Medical Society offers. The Society is not profiting from these sales.

Thank you for all that you do for the people of Wisconsin!

Virtual trivia night for residents – WisMed Meet Up!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:01:11 GMT

Medical Residents are invited to a virtual WisMed Meet Up! This 2000’s Pop Culture Trivia Night is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Wisconsin Medical Society member-residents across the state from the comfort of your home.

Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Register here.

The Society will create trivia teams, or you are welcome to create a team with your colleagues! Please email Jess with team names (up to four people per team).

The winning team will be awarded gift cards provided by WisMed Assure! Thank you to WisMed Assure for sponsoring this event.

Contact Jess, our Membership Specialist, at jessica.schreiter@wismed.org with any questions.

Doctor Day is May 5, 2021

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:00:18 GMT

Doctor Day is May 5, 2021

Wisconsin’s Doctor Day brings together physicians from every specialty and practice environment to meet with their legislators and advocate on health care issues affecting healthcare. The multi-specialty nature of Doctor Day makes it among the most unique advocacy events for physicians in the country.

Physicians and medical students at all stages of their careers will join together in Madison to take part in policy breakout sessions, hear keynote presentations and participate in a briefing on the day's priority issues. Attendees will then participate in group visits with legislators and legislative staff at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The day will conclude with a Doctor Day reception where you’ll have the chance to connect socially with your friends and peers.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or brand new to the legislative process, attending Doctor Day will provide you advocacy tools and skills to make your voices heard. Sign up today and join colleagues from all across Wisconsin at the Capitol on May 5^th.

Southern Clinical Neurological Society (SCNS) Annual Meeting

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 14:34:04 GMT

The four-day event will cover a wide range of neurology subspecialties including epilepsy, movement disorders, stroke, neuro-oncology and headache. The complete scientific program of speakers and lecture topics can be found on our website here. The Annual Meeting provides physicians the opportunity to earn up to 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits through case-based lectures.

Additionally, three Self-Assessment exams in the areas of sleep, neuromuscular and headache as well as a Performance-in-Practice (PIP) have been approved by the American Board of Psychiatry as required elements for Part II and IV Maintenance of Certification. Each Self-Assessment exam is approved for 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. The Performance-in-Practice exercise in mild cognitive impairment is approved for 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Pre-registration is now open at SCNSociety.com/annual-meeting. Pre-registration guarantees the following benefits:

priority access when official registration opens,
$50 dollar discount off registration, and
guaranteed accommodation in the host venue if booked by October 1st.

WNS Joins Coalition to Encourage Masks

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 14:28:31 GMT

July 22, 2020

The Wisconsin Neurological Society joined a coalition of medical societies in Wisconsin that created an open letter to the people of Wisconsin on the importance of wearing masks and social distancing to help curb further spread of COVID-19.

Read the full letter here.

Wisconsin Medicaid Telehealth Expansion Webinar: Stakeholder Input Session for Providers

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:25:38 GMT

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) invites you to attend a Medicaid Telehealth Expansion interactive webinar.

Agenda

This webinar will seek your response to DHS’s proposed launch of Wisconsin Act 56: Telehealth Expansion, which will significantly expand Wisconsin Medicaid’s permanent telehealth policy. The presentation will include the following items:

1.      General overview of telehealth expansion

2.      General policy information

3.      Wave 1 priority acute and primary service areas:

4.      Proposed services included in telehealth

5.      Proposed services excluded from telehealth

6.      Input from attendees

Following the presentation, DHS will take questions from attendees via the DHS telehealth mailbox.

How to join

Thursday, July 30, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Click this URL to join; Password: 07302020

Join by phone: 646-558-8656; Webinar ID #933 1403 1869

Friday, July 31, 2:00-3:30 pm

Click this URL to join; Password: 07312020.

Join by phone: 646-558-8656; Webinar ID #999 9957 0817

Registration Now Open! Doctor Day 2021

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:23:48 GMT

Doctor Day Registration is Open!

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Monona Terrace Convention Center
1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53703

The multi-specialty nature of Doctor Day makes Wisconsin's annual physicians' advoacy event unique compared to similar events across the country. Physicians and medical students from nearly 20 different physician organizations participate in Doctor Day.

Doctor Day features morning policy breakout sessions, along with keynote presentations and a briefing on the day's priority issues. Attendees will then participate in visits with legislators and legislative staff at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Learn first-hand how you can make a difference in the legislative process! Make your voice heard at Doctor Day.

Register Today!

Save the Date for Doctor Day 2021!

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:34:53 GMT

Save the Date for Doctor Day 2021! | Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Monona Terrace Convention Center

Learn first-hand how you can make a difference in the legislative process! Make your voice heard at Doctor Day.

Click here to visit the Doctor Day site

WNS Virtual Conference Registration is Now Open!

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 15:33:39 GMT

Missing the great content that the WNS Annual Conference has been known to offer? WNS would like to invite you to join us on Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 8:00am-12:30pm for the 1/2 day Virtual Conference! Stick around after the conference for the Annual Business Meeting from 1:00pm-1:30pm. Although we are disappointed we are not able to meet in person this year we hope to "see" you virtually!

Click here for additional details and to Register!

Medical malpractice fund waives premiums for providers

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:04:28 GMT

June 18, Wisconsin Health News

The state’s medical malpractice fund is waiving premiums for the next fiscal year for participating healthcare professionals and providers.

The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund’s Board of Governors approved the premium holiday on Wednesday.

The holiday, originally requested by the Wisconsin Medical Society, will run from July 1 to June 30, 2021.

Dr. Bud Chumbley, CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society and a board member, said the action will “provide some financial relief to many of the Wisconsin medical professionals and providers who have been affected by the pandemic and who face ongoing challenges.”

The fund covers claims beyond state-mandated insurance limits, which are set at $1 million by occurrence and $3 million by aggregate per year.

In April, lawmakers signed off on a plan not to increase participation fees for the fund for the next fiscal year.

Virtual Exhibit Hall Now Available!

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:12:04 GMT

The WNS Virtual Exhibit Hall is now Available!

Congratulations to Asprius for being our first exhibitor!

About Aspirus:

For the 3rd year in a row, Aspirus has been named by IBM Watson Health as one of the Nation’s Top 15 Health Systems, based on analysis of overall organizational performance and quality. We are a system of 10 hospitals and more than 50 clinics that spans over 25,000 square miles throughout Central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Currently, over 500 providers are located throughout the system and have the opportunity to affect approximately 770,000 lives.

Check out their booth today!

NEW! VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HALL - CONFIRM YOUR SPOT TODAY!

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:43:22 GMT

WNS Virtual Conference - Vendor Opportunity

We value your partnership and support during this time. In an effort to help your organization reach Wisconsin Neurologists and other conference attendees during these trying times, we have created a marketing package that includes participation in a Virtual Exhibit Hall and other benefits designed to enhance your exposure.

Click Here to Learn More!

Cancelled - 2020 WNS Annual Conference

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 26 May 2020 17:55:58 GMT

As WNS Leadership has continued to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our members and attendees to cancel the in-person 2020 Conference at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, October 16-17, 2020. We understand our members and attendees are experiencing a variety of new challenges and restrictions causing it to be difficult to be away from their homes and work during this time.

Join us Virtually!
The WNS Conference Planning Committee is confirming plans to offer a 1/2 day Virtual Conference featuring some of the great speakers that were planned to join us at the conference. Plan to join us on Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 8:00am-12:00pm for the Virtual Conference and stick around from 12:00pm-1:00pm for the WNS Annual Business Meeting. More details and registration information to come!

WNS will also feature a Virtual Exhibit Hall for our partners who have supported us over the years. Additional information will be available in the upcoming weeks!

Save the Date for 2021
WNS has worked with our partners at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI to confirm dates for the 2021 Annual Conference. Please save the date to join us at the Kalahari Resort - Friday, October 15 - Saturday, October 16, 2021!

WNS would like to sincerely thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this difficult time. If you have any urgent concerns or questions, please contact WNS@baderbay.co

Reinagining Care: Joseph Bovi, MD and Jennifer Connelly, MD

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 15 May 2020 13:26:29 GMT

Hello! I’m Dr. Joseph Bovi, a radiation oncologist with the Medical College of Wisconsin, and I’m Dr. Jennifer Connelly, a neuro-oncologist with MCW. We both are part of the neuro-oncology team with the Froedtert & MCW Clinical Cancer Network.

Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19 – and COVID-19 doesn’t stop us! Whether it is through video virtual visits or in-person visits in clinic, the neuro-oncology team continues to be available for patients to ensure no interruption to their treatment... Click to Read the full Article!

ANA 2020 Virtual Meeting Announcement

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 04 May 2020 17:35:52 GMT

American Neurological Association is Going Virtual!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the ANA 2020 Virtual Meeting, Complementary Registration for ANA Members, and Highlights of this year's virtual event!

Governor Announces Badger Bounce Back Plan

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:10:17 GMT

Governor Evers today announced Wisconsin's "Badger Bounce Back" plan which outlines important criteria for Wisconsin to be able to reopen its economy in phases and includes steps to make sure workers and businesses are prepared to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. In coordination with this announcement, at the direction of the governor, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm issued Emergency Order #31 establishing the process and outlining the phases of the plan. The emergency order is available here.

The Badger Bounce Back plan is informed in part by the President's Guidelines for Opening Up America Again that was issued by the White House on April 16, 2020. Currently, Wisconsin does not meet the criteria the White House established to start reopening our state. The Badger Bounce Back plan takes important steps to get the state of Wisconsin there.

The goal of the Badger Bounce Back plan is to decrease cases and deaths to a low level, and increase capacity in our healthcare system so the phased reopening of businesses is possible. As part of that plan the state will be working to increase access to more testing and expand lab capacity. Under the Badger Bounce Back plan, everyone who needs a test should get a test. The state is setting a goal of 85,000 tests per week, averaging about 12,000 tests per day. More information on the state's testing efforts was released earlier today, and is available for review here.

Next, the state will be expanding contact tracing and more aggressively tracking the spread with the goal of every Wisconsinite who tests positive being interviewed within 24 hours of receiving their test results and their contacts being interviewed within 48 hours of test results.

Additionally, the state will continue to pursue every avenue to grow Wisconsin’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare and public safety entities to conduct COVID-19 testing, patient care, and public safety work. Finally, the plan works to bolster healthcare system capacity where patients can be treated without crisis care and there are more robust testing programs in place for at-risk healthcare workers.

The state will be looking for a downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses and COVID-19 symptoms reported within a 14-day period, and a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period. When the state has seen these efforts be successful, Wisconsin can begin to turn the dial, re-open the state, and get businesses and workers back on their feet.

The Badger Bounce Back plan is available here. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s portion of the Badger Bounce Back plan aimed at helping to ensure workers and businesses are prepared and ready to bounce back is available here. The Badger Bounce Back plan in brief is also available here.

Governor Extends Wisconsin's Safer at Home Order

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:35:30 GMT

Governor Evers today directed Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to extend the Safer at Home order from April 24, 2020 to 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2020, or until a superseding order is issued. The order implements some new measures to ensure safety and support the progress we've made in containing COVID-19, but also allows certain activities to start up again.

The extension of the Safer at Home order includes a few changes. Some changes allow more businesses and activities to open back up, while other changes help make businesses safer for employees and customers.

The changes in this order go into effect on April 24, 2020. The order will remain in effect until 8 a.m. on May 26, 2020.

The order is available online (link). The Governor’s full press release is also available online (link).

WI Legislature Passes Liability Immunity Provisions

Maggie Gruennert — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 13:53:16 GMT

COVID-19 Update

Wisconsin Legislature Passes COVID-19 Response Legislation

The State Legislature passed, and the Governor has signed, the state's COVID-19 response package, which includes liability immunity provisions. A late amendment broadens the measure and ensures there is no ambiguity about protections applying to COVID and non-COVID patients alike.

The legislation also includes provisions that will help the state draw down additional federal dollars for Medicaid as well as a provision related to out of network billing.

Below is the liability immunity language as adopted.

SECTION 98. 895.4801 of the statutes is created to read:

895.4801 Immunity for health care providers during COVID-19 emergency.

(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:

(a) “Health care professional” means an individual licensed, registered, or certified by the medical examining board under subch. II of ch. 448 or the board of nursing under ch. 441.

(b) “Health care provider” has the meaning given in s. 146.38 (1) (b) and includes an adult family home, as defined in s. 50.01 (1).

(2) IMMUNITY. Subject to sub. (3), any health care professional, health care provider, or employee, agent, or contractor of a health care professional or health care provider is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to any individual or any damages caused by actions or omissions that satisfy all of the following:

(a) The action or omission is committed while the professional, provider, employee, agent, or contractor is providing services during the state of emergency declared under s. 323.10 on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, or the 60 days following the date that the state of emergency terminates.

(b) The actions or omissions relate to health services provided or not provided in good faith or are substantially consistent with any of the following:

Any direction, guidance, recommendation, or other statement made by a federal, state, or local official to address or in response to the emergency or disaster declared as described under par. (a).
Any guidance published by the department of health services, the federal department of health and human services, or any divisions or agencies of the federal department of health and human services relied upon in good faith.

(3) APPLICABILITY. This section does not apply if s. 257.03, 257.04, 323.41, or 323.44 applies.

COVID-19 Volunteer Program Announced

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:13:46 GMT

Governor Evers announced that the state is seeking volunteers to support Wisconsin's healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Active and retired healthcare professionals and those who wish to help in non-clinical support positions are encouraged to sign up to volunteer through the Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR).

The number of patients in Wisconsin who need to be treated for COVID-19 is expected to surge in the coming weeks. Building a network of available volunteers now will greatly reduce the hardships on hospitals and clinics that would not normally have the capacity to care for the increase in patients.

Both active and retired healthcare professionals can volunteer for critical clinical roles by entering their information into the WEAVR, a secure, password-protected, web-based volunteer registration system for healthcare and behavioral health professionals. Individuals who are not licensed professionals are also encouraged to sign up to volunteer for non-clinical support positions.

Volunteers will be assigned to locations across Wisconsin to support ongoing efforts related to the COVID-19 national emergency. Those who are willing to travel should note that when they sign up. All volunteers should also be aware that they will be required to complete a background check.

The full copy of the Governor’s press release is available online (link).

Wisconsin DHS Announces Resilient Wisconsin Initiative

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:34:22 GMT

The Department of Health Services announced the creation of the Resilient Wisconsin Initiative (website) on Friday, which provides Wisconsinites with resources to cope with stress and mental health challenges from COVID-19.

DHS recommends that Wisconsinites do the following:

Get the three goods. That’s good-for-you foods, a good night’s sleep, and a good amount of exercise every day.
Stay connected to your support system. Reach out to family and friends, colleagues, and community groups in whatever way you can—calls, texts, video chats, and more.
Spend time away from focusing on COVID-19. Don’t let the pandemic take over what you read, watch, or talk about. And don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to talk about something else.
Reduce anxiety by reducing your risk. Stay safer at home. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Stay at least 6 feet apart while running essential errands at the store, pharmacy, or gas station. Knowing you’re doing everything you can to stay healthy can help you worry less.
Check in with yourself. Everyone’s reaction to stress is different. Difficulty concentrating or sleeping, irritability, fatigue, and even stomachaches can be normal. But if you find you are overwhelmed or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, reach out for help right away. Text HOPELINE to 741741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Webinar - How the Stimulus Can Help You

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:33:48 GMT

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, there are wide-ranging resources available for physicians and health care professionals. However, identifying which resources would benefit your health care practice is difficult. The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed), gener8tor and WisMed Assure are here to help protect your practice and your employees.

Join gener8tor, WisMed and WisMed Assure for a free webinar about the government resources available to independent physicians and health care practices, as it relates to the stimulus package.

Here are just some of the great topics that will be covered:

· Which federal grant/loan programs is my business eligible for?
· SBA Disaster Loan (e.g. Economic Injury Disaster Loan or EIDL)
· CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

When: April 7 at 7 a.m.

The webinar will be made available as a COVID-19 resource on the Society's website after the event.

New Marquette Law School Poll Finds Strong Support for Coronavirus Closings

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:58:52 GMT

A new Marquette Law School poll of Wisconsin registered voters finds strong support for government actions to control the coronavirus pandemic, even as the poll also shows these actions to be having a substantial financial impact on voters.

The survey found:

Eighty-six percent say that it was appropriate to close schools and businesses, and restrict public gatherings, while 10 percent say that this was an overreaction to the pandemic;
A large majority of voters approve of Gov. Tony Evers’ handling of the coronavirus issue, with 76 percent saying they approve and 17 percent saying they disapprove;
A majority, 51 percent, approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic, while 46 percent disapprove;
Opinion is divided on holding the April 7 spring election as scheduled, with 51 percent saying the date should be moved and 44 percent saying it should be held as scheduled.

A full copy of the survey is available online (link).

Governor Evers Announces Second Package of Comprehensive Legislative Proposals Providing COVID-19 Relief and Support

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:57:25 GMT

Governor Evers today announced a second package of comprehensive legislative proposals that would provide critical investments in health services, support for essential workers, and assistance for Wisconsin families and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor’s announcement today comes just days after Gov. Evers announced a first piece of legislation, which included additional funding and flexibility for public health professionals and healthcare professionals, a repeal of the one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance, expanding and improving access to telehealth services, among many other proposals.

As additional needs and issues arise from agencies and stakeholders, the governor is committed to working with legislators to find bipartisan solutions. The governor’s office welcomes the opportunity to hear and consider any proposals that legislators have to address the impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of Wisconsin residents, businesses and communities.

This package, among many other proposals, includes:

Increasing funding for Medicaid providers via supplemental payments and rate increases to support the healthcare system’s response to the public health emergency;
Establishing a fund to reduce providers’ uncompensated care costs targeting reimbursement for treatment-related costs for uninsured individuals;
Establishing a COVID-19 reinsurance program to reduce health insurance premiums;
Providing grant funding to provide food assistance and meal delivery;
Prohibiting utility cooperatives from disconnecting customers and prohibiting land-lord directed disconnections from rental units during a public health emergency;
Ensuring workers receive back payment for any lost unemployment insurance benefits as a result of the delay in suspending the one-week waiting period;
Providing supplemental payments to child care providers, if that provider needed to shut down during the public health emergency;
Allowing households to apply for heating assistance under the low-income energy assistance program anytime during the 2020 calendar year;
Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families;
Providing municipalities the flexibility to implement multiple installments of three or more payments for 2020 property taxes;
Waiving interest and penalties on delinquent property taxes included in the 2019 payable 2020 tax roll, on and after April 1, 2020;
Creating a fund through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Association to provide 6 months of support for prevention of single-family foreclosures and providing refinancing opportunities to current borrowers; and
Providing grant funding for small businesses and workers through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The Governor’s first COVID-19-related legislation was introduced last week as LRB-5920 and is available here for review. A brief explanation of LRB-5920 is available here. A brief explanation of the governor’s second round of proposed legislation announced today is available online (link).

ForwardHealth Expands List of Drugs Available Through Expedited Emergency Supply

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:56:28 GMT

Effective for dates of service on and after April 1, 2020, ForwardHealth, which has an expedited emergency supply policy dispensing option available for certain drugs, has expanded the list of drugs available through expedited emergency supply and will allow most drugs to be dispensed in up to a 100-day expedited emergency supply.

A table with the expanded list of drugs available by expedited supply is included below and is also available on the Pharmacy Resources page of the ForwardHealth Portal. Pharmacy providers should continue to follow the current processes for requesting an expedited emergency supply of drugs detailed in the Emergency Medication Dispensing topic (#1399) of the ForwardHealth Online Handbook.

This Action Alert 10 and others are available on the ForwardHealth website (link).

Wisconsin LFB Published Report on State Funding in CARES Act

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:53:03 GMT

Wisconsin nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) published an analysis of the approximately $2.2 billion Wisconsin is expected to receive from the from the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. About $1.8 billion would go to the state government while the remaining funds would go to the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and Dane County. The LFB has also provided Wisconsin-specific estimates for some of the programmatic increases provided by the stimulus package. That report is available online (link).

The report includes a summary on all programs funded in the Act, including:

Public Health Emergency Preparedness funding from CDC;
Administration for Community Living
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
Direct Payments to State and Local Governments
Transportation, Housing and Unemployment Programs

Details on the full $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package are also available in the full bill available online (link). The following is a summary of some of the healthcare related provisions in the bill.

Health and Long-term Care

Grants to Hospitals and Health Care Providers: Provides $100 billion to reimburse, through grants or other mechanisms, eligible health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. Medicaid and Medicare providers are included in the definition of health care provider. To apply, providers must submit an application to the Secretary of Health and Human Services that includes a statement justifying their need.

Delay of Disproportionate Share Hospital Reductions. Delays scheduled reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments through November 30, 2020.

Increasing Provider Funding through Immediate Medicare Sequester Relief. Temporarily lifts the Medicare sequester from May 1 through December 31, 2020, boosting payments for hospital, physician, nursing home, home health, and other care by 2%. The Medicare sequester would be extended by one-year beyond current law to provide immediate relief without worsening Medicare’s long-term financial outlook.

Medicare Add-on for Inpatient Hospital COVID-19 Patients. Increases the payment that would otherwise be made to a hospital for treating a patient admitted with COVID-19 by 20%. It would build on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to expedite use of a COVID-19 diagnosis to enable better surveillance as well as trigger appropriate payment for these complex patients. This add-on payment would be available through the duration of the COVID-19 emergency period.

Grants to the V.A.: Provides $14.4 billion to the Veteran’s Administration for medical services.

CDC: Provides $4.3 billion to the CDC. Of these funds, $1.5 billion is set aside for grants to states, territories and tribes to help carry out surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, mitigation, communications, and other preparedness and response activities.

Strategic National Stockpile: Provides $16 billion in funding for the Strategic National Stockpile to procure personal protective equipment, ventilators and other supplies.

Hospital Preparedness: Provides $250 million for grants to improve the capacity of healthcare facilities to respond to medical events.

Rural Health: Provides $180 million to expand services and capacity for rural hospitals, telehealth, poison control centers.

Health Savings Accounts for Telehealth Services. Allows a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) to cover telehealth services prior to a patient reaching the deductible.

Providing Hospitals Medicare Advance Payments. Expands, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency period, an existing Medicare accelerated payment program. Specifically, qualified facilities would be able to request up to a six month advanced lump sum or periodic payment. This advanced payment would be based on net reimbursement represented by unbilled discharges or unpaid bills. Most hospital types could elect to receive up to 100% of the prior period payments, with Critical Access Hospitals able to receive up to 125%. Finally, a qualifying hospital would not be required to start paying down the loan for four months, and would also have at least 12 months to complete repayment without a requirement to pay interest.

Extension of Physician Work Geographic Index Floor. Extends payments for the work component of physician fees in areas where labor cost is determined to be lower than the national average through December 1, 2020.

National Academies Report on America’s Medical Product Supply Chain Security: Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to examine and report on the security of the United States medical product supply chain. Part of the report requires the examination of the United States’ dependence on critical drugs and devices that are sourced or manufactured outside of the U.S.

Requiring the Strategic National Stockpile to Include Certain Supplies: Requires the strategic national stockpile to include personal protective equipment, ancillary medical supplies, and other applicable supplies required for the administration of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, and diagnostic tests.

Preventing Medical Device Shortages: Requires manufacturers of medical devices that are critical during public health emergencies to notify the federal government of any discontinuance or interruption to manufacturing of the device that could disrupt the supply of the device in the U.S. The information will be used to compile a list of devices that are determined to be in short supply.

Rapid Coverage of Preventive Services and Vaccines for Coronavirus: Requires insurers to cover without cost-sharing any qualifying coronavirus preventive service. Qualifying preventive services include any evidence-based item, service, or immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate coronavirus disease.

Increased Funding for Health Centers: Provides $1.3 billion in additional funding to community health centers in fiscal year 2020.

Telehealth Network and Resource Center Grants: Provides $29 million per year through 2025 and reauthorizes Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant programs that promote the use of telehealth technologies for health care delivery, education, and health information services.

Rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs. Provides $79.5 million per year through 2025 and reauthorizes HRSA grant programs to strengthen rural community health by focusing on quality improvement, increasing health care access, coordination of care, and integration of services.

Limitation on liability for volunteer health care professionals during COVID-19 emergency response. Makes clear that doctors who provide volunteer medical services during the public health emergency related to COVID-19 have liability protections. In order to have the liability protections provided by the bill, a volunteer provider must be acting within the scope of their license, registration or certification as defined by the state.

Health Care Workforce

Reauthorization of health professions workforce programs.

Provides $51.4 million per year between 2021 and 2025 for scholarships to health care students. The funding is given to eligible entities, which includes schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, optometry, public health, etc.

Provides $48.9 million per year for the primary care training and enhancement program. Adds language prioritizing grant awards to programs that train physicians in rural areas.

Provides $41.2 million for eligible entities to establish health care workforce educational programs.

Provides $1.1 million per year for a loan repayment program for medical, dental and nursing students who agree to serve as faculty following graduation.

Provides $15 million per year to provide educational assistance to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue health care education.

Extension of Demonstration Projects to Address Health Professions Workforce Needs: Extends the Health Professions Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program through November 30, 2020 at current funding levels. This program provides funding to help low-income individuals obtain education and training in high-demand, well-paid, health care jobs.

Education and training relating to geriatrics. Provides $40.7 million per year and reauthorizes and updates Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), which pertains to programs to support clinician training and faculty development, including the training of practitioners in family medicine, general internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, and other medical specialties. It emphasizes integration of geriatric care into existing service delivery locations and care across settings, including home- and community-based services. The Secretary may provide awardees with additional support for activities in areas of demonstrated need, which may include education and training for home health workers, family caregivers, and direct care workers on care for older adults. Eligible entities could receive awards of at least $75,000.

Economic Relief

Recovery Rebates for Americans: Provides a one-time payment of $1,200 to individuals with incomes below $75,000 or a one-time payment of $2,400 for joint filers with incomes below $150,000. Payments are increased by $500 per child. The bill requires the one-time payments to be made as soon as possible.

Relief Payments to States, Tribal Governments and Local Units of Government: Provides $150 billion in direct payments to states, tribal governments and local units of government with. To qualify, local governments must have populations of more than 500,000 people. Payments are required to be used to cover expenditures related to COVID-19 that occur between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Expenditures must not have been accounted for in the state or local government’s most recent budget. The bill requires the Treasury Secretary to make these payments within 30 days of enactment.

Loans for Small Businesses, Non-profits, Contractors and Self-Employed Individuals. Allows nonprofits and other businesses with less than 500 employees to get loans from the Small Business Administration if they were adversely impacted by COVID-19. Loans can be used to cover payroll costs, health care benefits, mortgage or rent payments, utilities or interest on debt. Borrowers will be eligible for loan forgiveness if they maintain employees and their salaries. The eligibility period runs from February 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Maximum loan amounts will be determined using the organization's average monthly payroll amounts over a one year period. The bill appropriates $349 billion for this loan program.

Employee retention credit for employers subject to closure due to COVID-19. Provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid by employers to employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The credit is available to employers whose (1) operations were fully or partially suspended, due to a COVID-19-related shutdown order, or (2) gross receipts declined by more than 50 percent when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans: Provides $562 million to the Disaster Loan Program.

Broadband and Telehealth

Rural Utilities Service--Distance Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband Program: Provides $25 million for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.

Reconnect Pilot: Provides $100 million for grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.

Federal Communications Commission Telehealth: Provides $200 million to the FCC to respond to COVID-19. This includes supporting health care providers by providing telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to enable the provision of telehealth services.

Higher Education and Student Loans

Temporary Relief for Federal Student Loan Borrowers: Requires the Secretary to defer student loan payments, principal, and interest for 6 months, through September 30, 2020, without penalty to the borrower for all federally owned loans.

Adjustments of Subsidized Loan Limits. For students who dropped out of school as a result of COVID -19 excludes the term from counting toward lifetime subsidized loan eligibility.

Exclusion from Federal Pell Grant Duration Limit. For students who dropped out of school as a result of COVID -19 excludes the term from counting toward lifetime Pell eligibility.

Institutional Refund and Federal Student Loan Flexibility. For students who dropped out of school as a result of COVID -19, the student is not required to return Pell grants or federal student loans to the Secretary. Waives the requirement that institutions calculate the amount of grant or loan assistance that the institution must return to the Secretary in the case of students who dropped out of school as a result of COVID-19

Exclusion for certain employer payments of student loans: Allows employers to provide a student loan repayment benefit to employees on a tax-free basis. Under the provision, an employer may contribute up to $5,250 annually toward an employee’s student loans, and such payment would be excluded from the employee’s income. The $5,250 cap applies to both the new student loan repayment benefit as well as other educational assistance (e.g., tuition, fees, books) provided by the employer under current law. The provision applies to any student loan payments made by an employer on behalf of an employee after date of enactment and before January 1, 2021.

Emergency Order 16 FAQ and Telehealth Guidance: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

Maggie Gruennert — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:08:20 GMT

The Department of Safety and Professional Services (Department) has received numerous inquiries regarding Emergency Order 16 and also the status of telemedicine/telehealth practice as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The emergency covers a wide range of issues across many health care professions. The order took action that will make it easier to quickly expand the health care workforce by readmitted those with expired licenses and by welcoming providers from other states. It will also enhance flexibility so providers can more effectively respond to areas of greatest need. Please read the order, linked above, and also reference this Frequently Asked Questions document for clarifications. Both address individuals who have expired licenses and wish to return to practice.

Also, the order addresses telemedicine specifically, but we have also received questions about telehealth practice for other providers. The practice of telehealth is generally allowed under existing Wisconsin law unless there is some profession-specific requirement or restriction. Credential holders must use their professional judgment to determine if telehealth is appropriate for the patient or client being treated, to abide by all other applicable rules of practice and professional conduct, and to be properly credentialed or authorized to practice in the state of Wisconsin. If someone can practice in Wisconsin via an Emergency Order, a compact, or a temporary or permanent license, that individual can practice telehealth in Wisconsin and provide services to Wisconsin residents to the same extent as similarly licensed Wisconsin practitioners.

The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board has the only telemedicine rule currently in effect in Wisconsin. This rule may be found at Wis. Admin. Code Med chapter 24. While this rule applies only to the Medical Examining Board, many of the concepts in this rule may be informative to credential holders in other professions. Here is a link to this rule. Note that portions of this rule were suspended when Governor Evers issued Emergency Order 16. Please review both Med chapter 24 as well as the statutory and rule provisions governing your profession when evaluating telemedicine/telehealth practice options during the COVID-10 public health emergency.

The Department is not able to answer legal questions regarding what the standard of care requires for any specific profession or any specific situation a credential holder may encounter. If practice-related questions arise, the Department encourages credential holders to consult with a supervisor, with their own private or institutional legal counsel, with their colleagues within the profession, or other sources familiar with their profession’s standards of practice. Profession-related statutes and rules can be found by clicking on a profession under the Rule/Statutes column here.

Also, there have been recent changes to Medicaid reimbursement of telehealth services. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued guidance on telehealth reimbursement changes and status during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The guidance is available here. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has also sent this letter regarding related insurance (malpractice) issues to insurers.

This information will be posted to our website. Please visit often, as we are updating it daily as decisions are made and new information is available.

Sincerely,

Dawn B. Crim

Secretary-designee

Links to Forms

EMERGENCY ORDER #16 RENEWAL FORM

INTERSTATE RECIPROCITY TEMPORARY LICENSE APPLICATION

HEALTH CARE FACILITY NOTIFICATION OF TEMPORARY PROVIDER PRACTICE

Wisconsin Partnership Program Releases RFP for $1.5 Million in COVID-19 Grant Funding

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:35:42 GMT

The Wisconsin Partnership Program released an RFP Tuesday for a new $1.5 million grant program to support projects that “aim to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin by lessening the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

About $750,000 will be available for programs led by Wisconsin-based nonprofits, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations or tribal/government entities. Special emphasis will be given to projects that target vulnerable populations.

Grant applications are due April 15, 2020.

Governor Evers Sets Up State COVID-19 Voluntary Isolation Facilities

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:35:02 GMT

Governor Evers today announced the State of Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is opening two state-run voluntary isolation facilities in Madison and Milwaukee and is providing guidance to local communities throughout Wisconsin. The two sites are set to open April 1, 2020 are at Lowell Center in Madison and a Super 8 hotel in Milwaukee.

These facilities are for symptomatic individuals suspected to be infected with COVID-19 or who have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Individuals will not be permitted to register at the facility unless referred by a medical provider or public health official. Individuals register and stay at the isolation facility on a voluntary basis. The expected length of stay will be about 14 days, or 72 hours after symptoms dissipate. At any time, either the individual or the facility may terminate the individual’s presence at the site. Those staying at the facility will have wellness checks by phone every four hours during the day and if needed at night.

Additionally, the SEOC also issued guidance for communities seeking to open their own voluntary self-isolation centers. This guidance will aid local communities with the following:

How do we select, set up, and staff an isolation site?
How does a person get referred to and checked into the isolation site?
What happens while occupants are at the isolation site? Including details about medical monitoring/wellness check calls and other on-site services.
When do occupants leave the site? Including details about discharge and involuntary check out from the isolation site.

The full press release is available online (link).

Governor Evers Asks for Presidential Disaster Declaration

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:34:30 GMT

Governor Evers today sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that the president issue a major disaster declaration for the entire state of Wisconsin, as a result the COVID-19 pandemic. The request covers all 72 counties and the state’s federally recognized tribes.

Having determined that Wisconsin met all of the criteria required to receive a major disaster declaration, Gov. Evers in his letter requested that the federal government provide the following programs to support the state’s response: Public Assistance, Direct Assistance, Hazard Mitigation (statewide), and certain Individual Assistance programs; Crisis Counseling, Community Disaster Loans and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program.

Gov. Evers declared a public health emergency on March 12 in response to the outbreak, which directed the Department of Health Services to take all necessary and appropriate actions to help combat the spread of the virus. On March 14, the governor directed Wisconsin Emergency Management to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to provide additional coordination in support of the state’s response.

A copy of the governor’s letter (link) and the full press release are available online (link).

Governor Evers Announces Additional Shipment of Personal Protective Equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:33:04 GMT

Governor Evers today announced that Wisconsin has received its second phase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and is in the process of distribution. The second phase of supplies from the SNS are being delivered to healthcare workers, emergency medical services, and medical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and clinics across Wisconsin.

The State Emergency Operations Center and Department of Health Services continue working to supply medical facilities with supplies requested from the Strategic National Stockpile. The second phase includes approximately 51,880 N95 respirators, 130,840 face/surgical masks, 23,400 face shields, 20,226 surgical gowns, 96 coveralls, and 79,000 pairs of gloves. Today’s shipment comes as Governor Evers announced Wisconsin’s first delivery of SNS supplies which included approximately 52,800N95 respirators, 130,000 face/surgical masks, 24,768 face shields, 20,286 surgical gowns, 96 coveralls, and 61,750 pairs of gloves. In total Wisconsin has received approximately 104,680 N95 respirators, 260,840 face/surgical masks, 48,186 face shields, 40,512 surgical gowns, 192 coveralls, and 140,750 pairs of gloves from the SNS.

The SNS supply shipments do not include supplies the governor has requested from FEMA for non-medical personnel or supplies being aggressively pursued through procurement, donations, or the governor’s buyback program.

Governor Announces New Public-Private Partnership to Increase COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Capacity

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:06:35 GMT

Governor Evers announced a new public-private partnership among Wisconsin industry leaders to increase Wisconsin's laboratory testing capacity for COVID-19. Prior to today's announcement, the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene and the Milwaukee Public Health Lab were leading the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network labs to bring additional COVID-19 testing online.

The new partnership now includes laboratory support from Exact Sciences, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Promega, and UW Health. These organizations, along with the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network, will now share knowledge, resources, and technology to bolster Wisconsin’s testing capacity.

The Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network labs have been averaging completion of 1,500-2,000 COVID-19 tests per day. The expanded capacity from the state’s new public-private partnership is expected to double that capacity initially and continue to expand as additional platforms and supplies become available.

Residents who are seeking a COVID-19 test are still required to receive an order from a doctor. These labs are not testing sites.

The full press release is available online (link).

ForwardHealth Announces New Policies for Telehealth Reimbursement

Maggie Gruennert — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 18:08:03 GMT

ForwardHealth will allow telehealth services utilizing interactive synchronous (real-time) technology, including audio-only phone communication, for currently covered services that can be delivered with functional equivalency to the face-to-face service. This applies to all service areas and all enrolled professional and paraprofessional providers allowable within current ForwardHealth coverage policy.

Please refer to the Forward Health Update 2020-15 (link) for a comprehensive explanation of the update.

Governor Releases COVID-19 Legislation

Maggie Gruennert — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 18:08:45 GMT

Governor Evers released a 65-page draft piece of legislation and a draft joint resolution on Saturday night aimed at addressing COVID-19. The Governor also released a chart outlining the proposal. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau also provided a Summary of provisions of Governor Evers’ proposed legislation and Joint Resolution indefinitely extending public health emergency to state legislators.

The bill includes several healthcare provisions, including language related to out-of-network bills that occur during the public health emergency. The language caps physician payment rates at 250% of the Medicare rate.

Insurance

Prohibits health plans from charging patients more for out-of-network services related to the diagnosis and treatment of the condition for which a public health emergency has been declared than they do for in-network services (if an in-network physician is not available).
The bill requires the plan to reimburse the out-of-network provider at 250% of the Medicare rate. Providers and facilities are prohibited from charging patients more than what they are reimburse by the plan.
Creates a process for out-of-state physicians to have liability coverage in Wisconsin during a public health emergency. They would need to provide OCI with a certificate of insurance for a policy of health care liability insurance issued by an insurer that is authorized in a jurisdiction accredited by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Requires health plans to cover without cost-sharing any testing, treatment or vaccines related to COVID-19.
Requires health plans to cover any services provided via telehealth if they cover that service when it is provided in-person.
Prohibits health plans from canceling policies due to non-payment during the COVID-19 emergency
Prohibits health plans and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring prior authorization for any early refills of prescriptions or restricting the period of time in which a drug may be refilled.
Creates a process for pharmacists to extend prescription orders by up to 30 days during public health emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness

Provides $300 million to the Department of Military Affairs to respond to the public health emergency.
Provides $200 million to the Department of Administration to respond to the public health emergency.

Health

Creates a public health emergency fund for the Department of Health Services.
Provides $100 million for a new health care provider grant program specific to planning, preparing for and responding to COVID-19.
Provides $17.4 million to local health departments.
Creates 64 positions within the Department of Health Services’ Division of Public Health.
Allows DHS to suspend any premium or cost-sharing requirements for childless adults on BadgerCare in order to qualify for enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds related to COVID-19.
Exempts the Department of Health Services, during a public health emergency, from the current law legislative review requirements for submitting waiver requests to the federal government, amending the state Medicaid plan or raising Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Expands the definition of public health emergency to include toxins or other threats to health.

Health Care Workforce

Allows former health care providers to receive a temporary license to provide services during a public health emergency. This would apply to physicians, nurses, PAs, dentists, pharmacists, phycologists, social workers and other health providers who have practiced within the last 5 years but do not currently have a license. The temporary license would be valid until 90 days following the conclusion of the health emergency.
Allows out-of-state health care providers to receive a temporary license to practice in Wisconsin. The temporary license would be valid until 90 days following the conclusion of the health emergency.
Allows the state to waive licensure fees for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and certain behavioral health providers.
Exempts certain health care provider credentials issued by credentialing boards in DSPS from having to be renewed during the public health emergency.

Unemployment Insurance

Eliminates the one-week waiting period for Unemployment Insurance

Voting

The bill contains several provisions related to voting during public health emergencies. Specifically, for elections held during a declared public health emergency, it would:

Require elections held during public health emergencies to be held by mail.
Waive the state’s Photo ID requirement.
Waive the requirement that mail-in absentee ballots need a witness signature.
Allow mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
Allow voters to register electronically until 5 days before the election.

Governor Issues Order to Expedite Expansion, Enhance Efficiency of Healthcare Workforce

Maggie Gruennert — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 13:42:06 GMT

Governor Evers and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm today exercised their authority under Article V, Section 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution and Sections 323.12(4) and 252.02(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes to simplify healthcare license renewals during the COVID-19 public health emergency and to encourage recently retired professionals with expired licenses to re-enter practice. This full order is available online (link).

The order includes the following policy changes:

· Interstate Reciprocity: allows any out-of-state health can provider licensed and in good standing to practice in Wisconsin without a Wisconsin credential. The order requires the out-of-state physician to apply for a temporary or permanent Wisconsin license within 10 days of first working at a Wisconsin health care facility; and the health care facility must notify DSPS within 5 days. The order temporarily suspends the visiting physician practice limitations in Med 3.04.

· Temporary License: Any temporary licensed to an out-of-state provider during the emergency will be valid until 30 days after the conclusion of the emergency.

· Telemedicine: Allows physicians licensed and in good standing in Wisconsin, another U.S. state or Canada to provide telemedicine services to Wisconsin residents.

· Physician Assistants: Suspends several current rules regulating the practice of PAs in Wisconsin. This includes: the requirement of PAs to notify the MEB of changes to their supervising physician within 20 days (order changes it to 40 days); the requirement that PAs limit their scope of practice to that of their supervising physician (the order allows them to practice to the extent of their experience, education, training and abilities. It also allows them to delegate tasks to another health provider); the physician to PA ratio of 4:1 (the order allows a physician to oversee up to 8 on-duty PAs at a time, but there is no limit on how many PAs a physician may provide supervision to over time. It also allows a PA to be supervised by multiple physicians while on duty).

· Nurse Training and Practice: The order suspends many rules related to nursing. This includes suspending a rule that prohibits simulations from being utilized for more than 50% of the time designated for meeting clinical learning requirements. It also suspends the requirement for nurses to submit an official transcript in order to get a temporary license and allows a temporary license to remain valid for up to 6 months. In addition, it suspends the rule requiring license renewal within 5 years.

· Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers: Temporarily suspends the requirement that Nurse Prescribers must facilitate collaboration with other health care professionals, at least 1 of whom shall be a physician or dentist.

· Recently Expired Credentials: Requires the state to reach out to individuals with recently lapsed credentials about renewal options. The order also suspends many of the late renewal fees and continuing education requirements for most health professions. The order temporarily suspends MED 14.06(2)(a) to allow a physician whose license lapsed less than 5 years ago to renew without fulfilling the continuing education requirements. It also suspends RAD 5.01 (1) and (2) to allow radiographers or LXMO permit holders who have let their license lapse renew without completing continuing education.

· Fees: The order also gives DHS the ability to suspend fees or assessments related to health care provider credentialing.

The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect through the duration of the public health emergency.

The full version of the Governor’s press release is available online (link).

Governor Suspends Evictions and Foreclosures During Public Health Emergency

Maggie Gruennert — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 13:45:40 GMT

Governor Evers directed the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to temporarily order the suspension of evictions and foreclosures amid the COVID-19 public health emergency. The full order is available online (link).

The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for any reason unless failure to proceed with the eviction will result in an imminent threat of serious physical harm to another person and mortgagees from commencing civil action to foreclose on real estate for 60 days. Wisconsinites who are able to continue to meet their financial obligations are urged to do so. This order does not in any way relieve a person's obligation to pay their rent or mortgages.

The full press release is available on the Governor’s website (link).

Bennett Hiner Research Award Now Open

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:28:22 GMT

The Wisconsin Neurological Society is now accepting applications for the Bennett Hiner Research Award. The Award is presenting to a medical student enrolled at one of the state’s medical schools in recognition for extra-ordinary service, leadership and research in the neurosciences and allied-health students.

This award is in memory of Bennett Hiner, son of long-time Society member Dr. Bradley Hiner. Bennett passed away unexpectedly in November of 2011. He was a leader in his medical school class at the University of Southern California and actively involved in neuroscience research.

Qualified applicants are medical students enrolled in either the Medical College of Wisconsin or the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; graduate and allied health students who have completed neuroscience research within two years of the application for the award; have demonstrated leadership experience while enrolled in medical school or graduate programs; and have submitted the application and research abstract.

Applicants should submit their applications and abstracts to the WNS Office by July 31, 2020. A winner will be selected by August 31, and notified in September. The Society will invite the Award winner to the WNS Annual Conference, during lunch on Saturday, October 17 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Find out more details here.

Register Today! FREE Telemedicine and COVID-19 Webinar

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:16:42 GMT

The AAN will host a FREE webinar featuring best practices on implementing telemedicine services and updates on changing US regulations during the novel coronavirus Public Health Emergency.

Thursday, March 26, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

REGISTER NOW!

AAN COVID-19 Neurology Resource Center

Maggie Gruennert — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:13:29 GMT

In the face of COVID-19, the AAN has developed resources for the neurology community around this rapidly evolving pandemic. The COVID-19 Neurology Resource Center is a great page for the latest resources and guidance from the AAN and other trusted organizations to help you care for neurologic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating the website as often as new information comes out, so check back on AAN.com/COVID19 often for resource updates.

WNS Incoming President's Message - Dr. Donn Dexter

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 16:03:11 GMT

Fellow neurologists,

I hope your new year is off to a great start. Let me start off this message with a thank you to Dr. Dulli for his great job serving as president of the Society for the last 2 years. I would also like to welcome Drs. Fee, Struck and Young to their roles as President-Elect, Vice President and Treasurer, respectively. We're off to a great start and look forward to a very eventful and positive year.

We will be meeting in medicine for Doctor Day at the Capital on Wednesday, January 29th. There is still time to sign up for this informative and important event. It is a great opportunity to network with other physicians and influence our legislators on issues important to our patients, practice and profession.

Our annual meeting in 2020 will again be at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We're looking forward to an excellent educational program. We will again have guest speakers sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, along with our local and statewide presenters and experts. Updates on advocacy and other national issues will be provided by Academy experts. There will be plenty of opportunity for networking among the attendees.

I will be meeting with the program director at the University Wisconsin neurology residency and will be giving Grand Rounds on June 8th this year. I've asked Dr. Fee to make similar in roads at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Our hope is to get more Residents to attend are annual meeting and build our WI future neurologists. I know that many neurologists would love to have the opportunity to interact with our colleagues in training. In addition to the research presentations and awards we're asking the residents for ideas that might increase their involvement.

Your input is always welcome. Our goal is to make the Wisconsin Neurological Society a great value to our members. I am looking forward to another great year and look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sincerely,

Donn Dexter, MD

President, WNS

Wisconsin Medical Society - Fall Well-being & Empowerment Forum

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 14:32:05 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society continues to lead the conversation on well-being and empowerment for physicians and health care teams with this follow-up to last year’s successful event. Designed to energize collaborative efforts to advance proven solutions for increasing clinician empowerment, retention and satisfaction – come be a part of this critical conversation.

For more information and to register, click the link below:

https://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/professional/professional-development/physician-leadership/well-being-empowerment-forum/

2019 WNS Annual Conference Recap!

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 21:39:52 GMT

2019 brought yet another successful annual conference for the Wisconsin Neurological Society! We had 50 neurological physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents and others who practice in neurology in attendance. We also are proud to have a record breaking 39 exhibitors come to support the organization and display their technological advances in the field of neurology. Eight speakers presented on a vast array of neurological topics, as well as the traditional Forster Award Competition featuring four residents.

Our CME Sessions have had rave reviews with variations and advances in the field of neurology. If you have not had a chance to complete your evaluation, please be sure to do so in order to claim CME credit, also.

Our thanks to the following exhibitors for their support:

AbbVie Inc, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, American Academy of Neurology, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Bellin Health, Biogen, Boston Scientific DBS, BriovaRx, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, EMD Serono, Froedtert & The Medical College of WI, Genentech, Grifols, Gundersen Health, INSIGHTEC, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Lilly USA, LLC, Lundbeck, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Medtronic, Neurocrine BioSciences, Neurotech, Novartis, PMT Corporation, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme, SI-BONE, Sunovion, Supernus, Teva Pharmaceuticals, UCB, US Worldmeds.

Our appreciation to Dr. Sarah Song, Dr. Jessica Baker, Dr. Timothy Young, Kerri Crank, Dr. Susanne Seeger, Dr. Sterling Johnson, Dr. Matt Harmelink, Dr. Natalie Wheeler, Dr. Natasha Frost, Dr. Elizabeth Lake, Dr. Elizabeth Felton, Marianne Crabb, and Dr. Brett Kissela.

Special congratulations to our Bennett Hiner Award Winner - Jennifer Meylor, and also the WNS Forster Award Competition Winner - Dr. Marek Cierney, and Runners Up - Dr. Pamela Youssef and Dr. Heydi Flores-Podadera.

Lastly, special thank you to Dr. Doug Dulli who will finish his term as President at the end of the year! Picture of President Dr. Dulli below & Incoming President Dr.Donn Dexter below.

We look forward to seeing you in WI Dells at the Kalahari Resort in 2020, October 16-17th!

WNS Board Members Announced at Annual Meeting

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 01:35:51 GMT

The WNS was proud to introduce new leaders at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells, October 19th. The new members will begin their 2 year terms January 1, 2020.

President – Dr Donn Dexter
President-Elect – Dr Dominic Fee
Vice President - Dr Aaron Struck
Secretary/Treasurer - Dr Timothy Young

The CME Chair position will be filled by Dr. Jennifer Connelly and the Past President Position automatically filled by Dr. Douglas Dulli.

A special thank you to board member Dr. Rodrigo Merino who will finish his term at the end of the year.

WNS Holds Forster Award Competition

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 21:26:37 GMT

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

The featured Resident Presenters this year were:

Door-in to Door-Out Time in Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion: Retrospective Review Informs Targeted Improvement Strategies
Marek Cierny, MD, Medical College of WI, Neurology – Post Graduate Year 4

Surgical Outcomes and Intracranial EEG Findings in Drug-resistant Non-LesionalEpilepsy with Temporal Lobe Features on Scalp Video-EEG
Pamela Youssef, MD, Medical College of WI, Neurology – Post Graduate Year 4

A 58 Year Old Male with Rapidly Progressive Quadriparesis and Respiratory Distress

Heydi Flores-Podadera, MD
UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health – Dept of Neurology

We'd like to congratulate this year's winner Dr. Marek Cierney, as well as Dr. Heydi Flores-Podadera and Dr. Pamela Youssef for their outstanding work in the field of neurology. Each resident received a cash stipend for participating

Charles Franklin, PhD, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, to keynote 2020 Doctor Day

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 19:56:08 GMT

Charles Franklin, PhD, nationally recognized government scholar and pollster, will headline Doctor Day 2020.

Doctor Franklin has served as director of the Marquette Law School Poll since its inception in 2012. During that year’s highly scrutinized election cycle, he established Marquette as the definitive source for information concerning public opinion in Wisconsin.

Under Doctor Franklin’s direction as a visiting professor at Marquette, the poll became the largest independent polling project in state history. It accurately captured voter attitudes before every major election in 2012, including the gubernatorial recall, U.S. Senate and presidential races.

Since joining Marquette as a professor of law and public policy in August 2013, Doctor Franklin has used the poll to continue tracking political races of interest to voters and explore additional public policy issues.

At Doctor Day on January 29, 2020, Franklin will share his insight and polling data relevant healthcare policy and the 2020 elections.

For more information and to register, please go to www.widoctorday.org.

WNS Announces 2019 Bennett Hiner Research Award Recipient will be given to Jennifer Meylor

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:56:54 GMT

The Bennett Hiner Research Award, supported by the Bennett Hiner Memorial Fund at the Wisconsin Neurological Society, is awarded each year to a medical student enrolled and in good standing at a Wisconsin medical school or allied health profession.

The award commemorates Bennett Carroll Hiner, son of Dr. Bradley Hiner and Susan Carroll. Bennett, who found his place in medicine and took great joy in helping others, died unexpectedly at the age of 26 while enrolled at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Award winners are selected based on a combination of their leadership in medical school and research in the neurosciences.

This year’s recipient is Jennifer Meylor from the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Her abstract is titled: Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs Characterized by Patch Clamp Electrophysiology: A Systematic Review

This year’s award will be presented October 19 at the WNS Annual Conference in Wisconsin Dells - be sure to attend and learn more about her abstract presentation!

Evers Signs Step Therapy, Dialysis Bills

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:58:24 GMT

Evers signs step therapy, dialysis bills

Gov. Tony Evers signed into law two bipartisan healthcare bills Tuesday, including one that allows patients to bypass policies that require them to try cheaper medications before more expensive ones.

Under the proposal, insurers have to allow exceptions to step therapy if patients seeking the more expensive treatment have supporting documentation from providers, have tried the drug before, or if the cheaper treatment is expected to be ineffective or have adverse health effects.

Evers also approved a bill so distributors that provide patients with in-home dialysis supplies don't have to get a pharmacist license. The proposal was backed by Baxter Corporation, which has to register its Minnesota and Illinois distribution centers as fully licensed pharmacies.

Evers described the bills as “important steps” in “doing everything we can to make sure that folks in all 72 counties can access the life-saving care they need and deserve without barrier or burden.”

Step therapy bill heads to Evers

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:02:37 GMT

*From Wisconsin Health News, June 19

The Assembly signed off on a bill Tuesday that would allow patients to bypass health plan policies that require them to try cheaper medications before more expensive ones.

The bipartisan proposal, which passed the Senate earlier month, now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk.

The approval comes after lawmakers consulted with insurers and other healthcare providers and amended the legislation. Under the proposal, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and utilization review organizations have to allow patients to apply for exceptions to step therapy protocols.

The companies would have to grant their requests if providers submit supporting documentation under certain conditions, like if the cheaper drug could cause serious side effects, is expected to be ineffective or the patient has tried the drug before.

“We arrived at a bill that keeps the spirit, integrity, and patient protections of the original bill, while still ensuring the health plans have the ability to meaningfully utilize step therapy protocols in order to keep costs down,” bill author Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said in a statement.

The chamber also signed off on a bill that would change state law so distributors of products necessary for home dialysis don’t need to be licensed as pharmacies. That bill also heads to Evers.

And it passed legislation allowing properly trained pharmacists to administer vaccines prescribed to children under the age of 6. The Senate has yet to take up the measure.

Senate health committee approves step therapy bill

Wed, 08 May 2019 16:44:19 GMT

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee signed off on a bill Tuesday that would allow patients to bypass insurance policies requiring them to try cheaper drugs before moving on to more expensive ones.

The committee unanimously approved the legislation requiring insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and utilization review organizations to have exceptions for step therapy protocols.

Lawmakers also approved bills that would:

· allow properly trained pharmacists to immunize patients younger than six who have a prescription for a vaccine.

· allow Wisconsin to continue to participate in a an interstate licensure compact that lets doctors more easily practice in other states.

· eliminate a law requiring distributors that provide patients with in-home dialysis supplies to obtain pharmacist licenses.

The proposals now head to the Senate. An Assembly committee is also set to consider the step therapy, dialysis and pharmacy bills Thursday.

Governor Evers to address General Session on May 1st

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 20:05:54 GMT

Doctor Day 2019 is fast approaching and it’s important that physicians like YOU participate in our unique-to-Wisconsin, annual multi-specialty advocacy event in Madison on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. As always, Doctor Day is a jointly-sponsored event that includes more than a dozen Wisconsin specialty societies and WMS.

As in past years, we strive to invite leading Wisconsin politicians or health policy experts to speak before Doctor Day to keep our attendees attuned to the latest in Wisconsin politics, and healthcare law and policy.

We have confirmed that Wisconsin’s new Governor, Tony Evers, will speak to our General Session on May 1st.

Attorney Guy DuBeau (Axley, Brynelson, SC), who serves as counsel to several special societies, will provide a legal update including discussion of the 2018 Mayo v. IPFCF decision (medical malpractice damage caps), current Wisconsin marijuana law and proposals, and physician non-compete agreements.

Each participating organization is invited to provide an “issue paper” to be left with lawmakers during the afternoon’s Legislative Visits, describing the particular organization and the organization’s key policy or legislative issues. Due to the unique nature of Doctor Day’s multi-specialty approach, and the limited time for each meeting with lawmakers, as always our attendees will be asked to jointly advocate for some key and politically timely health issues. During the morning General Session, lobbyists representing the participating organizations will lead briefings on these key Advocacy Issues, including:

Strengthening vaccination requirements for primary school age children
Ensuring the greatest possible access to care for Medicaid patients by prioritizing improved physician reimbursement vis-à-vis recent reimbursement increases targeted only toward institutional payments.

Doctor Day will again conclude with the ever-popular Doctor Day Reception. This year, the reception will be held at a new and larger venue: Madison’s, a popular restaurant and bar located one block off the Square at 119 King Street, providing our attendees a casual opportunity to mingle and debrief with colleagues from a variety of medical specialties.

The tentative schedule and online registration are available at www.WIDoctorDay.org.

In just six years, Doctor Day has grown from just over 100 to nearly 500 attendees – but we need you to maintain that growth. As a Wisconsin physician, Doctor Day is the best way for you to let Wisconsin lawmakers know their physician-constituents are aware and care about what they are doing in Madison. There is no cost to attend Doctor Day, so please register today.

Around 30 percent of medical students to stay in state for residencies

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 15:16:30 GMT

About 30 percent of graduating medical students will remain in Wisconsin for their residencies, according to the state’s two medical schools.

More than 400 Wisconsin Medical students found out where they’re heading for residencies earlier this month when the National Resident Matching Program released its results.

At the Medical College of Wisconsin, 33 percent of the 224 students who obtained positions are remaining in state. The top picks for specialties were internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine.

At the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 26 percent of the 185 students who obtained positions are remaining in state. The top picks for specialties were family medicine, internal medicine and emergency medicine.

Medical society plans to convene stakeholders, pursue physician health program to fight burnout

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:42:22 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society plans to create a center focused on fighting physician burnout this year as well as pursue legislation to create a physician health program, according to a recent report showing more than half of Wisconsin physicians reporting burnout.

The report, based on a survey of 1,165 Wisconsin doctors, showed that nearly 53.5 percent are experiencing one symptom of burnout. And 47.1 percent plan to decrease clinical hours or retire early in the next five years.

“We continue to see higher percentages of physicians identifying one or more of the symptoms of burnout,” said society CEO Dr. Bud Chumbley. “That’s troublesome.”

The survey found that electronic health records were a top stressor for doctors, as well as government and insurance regulations and an unsupportive work environment.

To address burnout, Chumbley said that the society is planning to launch the Center for Physician Empowerment this year, which will seek to convene health systems in the state to share what they’re doing to address burnout efforts.

They’re also working on additional physician leadership and mentorship programs. Chumbley also said he's spoken with Verona-based Epic about the problem as well. He’s hoping to talk with insurers about their policies too.

“Our job is to identify these problems, try to get those individuals who can help solve them,” Chumbley said. “Hopefully, if we get all those people in a room, talking about how to solve it, that’s the best way to reverse this trend.”

The medical society is also working with the Medical Examining Board to develop legislation that would create a physician health program run by the state.

Chumbley said Wisconsin is one of the few states that doesn't have a physician health program. The society previously ran such a program, but it ended in 2007 due to "legal concerns and difficulties coordinating funding for the program," the report noted.

WI Health News Event: What’s the future of marijuana and CBD in Wisconsin?

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 19:03:56 GMT

Marijuana was among the big winners at the polls in November, with voters in counties across the state signaling their support for legalization. Backers also have a friend in Gov.-elect Tony Evers, who has said doctors should be able to use cannabis to treat patients.

Meanwhile, CBD, a cannabis compound, has been heralded as a cure-all for everything from seizures to chronic pain to better sleep. Lawmakers have approved its use, but questions over its health benefits - and legality - remain.

A Jan. 8 Wisconsin Health News panel in Madison will take a closer look at the legal and health issues around marijuana and CBD – and their future in the state.

Panelists:

· Dr. Mike Miller, American Board of Addiction Medicine

· Michael Queensland, Senior Staff Attorney, Wisconsin Legislative Council

· Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison

· Sen. Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point

Society urges flexibility in future CME/opioids requirements

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 18:53:17 GMT

Medigram-December 20

The Wisconsin Medical Society has urged the state’s Medical Examining Board (MEB) to be flexible when approving courses related to opioid prescribing so that more physicians can receive useful education befitting their particular specialties. The input was given at a public hearing before the MEB on a new administrative rule related to an extension of the opioid prescribing continuing medical education (CME) course requirement until November 2021.

Current rules require physicians holding a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration number to complete two of the 30 required hours of CME per biennium in an MEB-approved course related to the state’s opioid prescribing guidelines. The current requirement expires in November 2019. The MEB is extending the requirement for another CME reporting biennium while broadening the subject matter scope to “an educational course or program related to opioid prescribing.”

The Society was the only organization to testify before the MEB on the rule proposal.

Flexibility in the types of courses that can gain MEB approval would make the requirement more relevant to certain physicians who, while not being active opioid prescribers, often take care of patients dealing with the aftermath of opioid addiction or abuse. The Society also suggested that the Board could incentivize physicians taking coursework in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) by making those courses eligible to satisfy the requirement should they be submitted for CME approval. The MEB welcomed the comments and indicated that such flexibility would be useful as Wisconsin continues to grapple with this issue.

The MEB unanimously approved the rule proposal, which now moves on to standard Governor’s office and legislative review. Contact Mark Grapentine, JD, for more information.

Each of the webinars available in the Society’s opioid prescribing series has been approved by the MEB for fulfilling the 2018-2019 CME requirement, including two 2-hour webinars presented by Michael McNett, MD. The other programs vary in length and may be combined to satisfy the mandate. Click here to learn more.

MCW-affiliated concussion study gets more backing

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:53:20 GMT

MCW-affiliated concussion study gets more backing
*From Wisconsin Health News, 11/9/2018

A consortium studying concussions that includes the Medical College of Wisconsin recently received $22.5 million in new funding, according to a statement.

The money from the Department of Defense and NCAA will expand a concussion study that includes MCW, Indiana University School of Medicine, the University of Michigan and the Uniformed Services University.

The NCAA-DOD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium has collected data on more than 39,000 student-athletes and cadets at 30 colleges and military service academies.

That includes 3,300-plus who have had concussions, the largest sample of concussions researched in a single study.

A $30 million joint NCAA-Department of Defense grant funded the first part of the study, which focused on the acute effects of concussions.

The new phase, funded by $12.5 million from NCAA and nearly $10 million from a DOD grant, will look at the intermediate and cumulative effects of concussion and repetitive head impacts.

"What we learn from this research will advance the science of traumatic brain injury and improve our understanding of how to best support the health and well-being of student-athletes, not only during their collegiate athletics experience but beyond,” Dr. Brian Hainline, NCAA chief medical officer, said in a statement.

Sign up now for Doctor Day 2019!

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 11:08:17 GMT

Wisconsin’s Doctor Day has become one of the largest events of its kind across the country and serves as the premier advocacy event for physicians in our state. Over 500 physicians and medical students representing nearly every medical specialty participate in this annual event for an opportunity to learn the legislative process first-hand, and to make their voices heard at the State Capitol. Doctor Day 2019, scheduled for May 1 in Madison, will kick off with and advocacy primer followed by a briefing on current issues impacting physicians and the patients they serve. In the afternoon, attendees will meet with their legislators and/or legislative staff at the State Capitol, and the day will conclude with a reception at Madison’s. Learn more and sign up at www.WIDoctorday.org.

WNS Holds Forster Award Competition

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:15:14 GMT

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

The featured Resident Presenters this year were:

Pediatric Stroke: A case report, review and management - Erica Tauck, MD, PGY III, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Neurology

Quantitative Analysis of Epileptic spikes using high density EEG: Differences between NREM and REM sleep
Xuan Kang, MD, University of Wisconsin – Department of Neurology

Seizure prophylaxis in the immediate post-hemorrhagic period in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Salman Farooq, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Developing a process for IV tPA door-to-needle administration in 30 minutes or less, a multidisciplinary approach
Sumaiya Khondker, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

We'd like to congratulate this year's winner Dr. Sumaiya Khondker, as well as Dr. Salman Farooq, Dr. Xuan Kang, and Dr. Erica Tauck for their outstanding work in the field of neurology. Each resident received a cash stipend for participating!

WNS Annual Conference Recap

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 15:56:37 GMT

WNS Annual Conference Recap

October 19-20, 2018
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI

2018 brought yet another successful annual conference for the Wisconsin Neurological Society! We had 45 neurological physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents and others who practice in neurology in attendance. We also are proud to have a record breaking 30 exhibitors come to support the organization and display their technological advances in the field of neurology. Eight speakers presented on a vast array of neurological topics, as well as the traditional Forster Award Competition featuring four residents.

A special thank you to Dr. Jennifer Connelly, our CME Director for coordinating the presenters and educational activities. Our CME Sessions have had rave reviews with variations and advances in the field of neurology. If you have not had a chance to complete your evaluation, please be sure to do so in order to claim CME credit, also.

Our thanks to the following exhibitors for their support: Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Neurosciences, Alnylam, American Academy of Neurology, Amgen, Aspirus, Aurora Health Care, Avanir, Biogen, Boston Scientific Deep Brain Stimulation, Chiesi USA, EMD Serono, Froedtert and The Medical College of Wisconsin, Genentech, Greenwich Biosciences, Grifols Therapeutics, Impax, Lundbeck, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Medtronic, Neurocrine Biosciences, Neurotech LLC, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi Genzyme (2 tables), Teva Pharmaceuticals, UCB, and US Worldmeds.

Our appreciation to Dr. Terrence Cascino, Dr. Chad Carlson, Dr. Natalie Wheeler, Dr. Staley Brod, Dr. Fallon Schloemer, Dr. Kathleen Shannon and Dr. Eric Adelman for your contribution to the success of the conference by presenting to our attendees.

Special congratulations to our Bennett Hiner Award Winner - Brett Fulleylove-Krause.

2018 Bennett Hiner Research Award Recipient will be given to Brett Fulleylove-Krause

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 17:51:26 GMT

This year’s recipient is Brett Fulleylove-Krause from the Medical College of Wisconsin. His abstract is titled: Increasing NAD Levels in an iPSC model of Parkinson’s Disease.

This year’s award will be presented October 20 at the WNS Annual Conference in Elkhart Lake - be sure to attend in order to hear more about the great work being researched! Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the WNS website to submit an application for consideration next year.

Workers' Comp. Premiums Decline for Third Year

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:13:42 GMT

July 12, Wisconsin Health News

Workers’ compensation premiums for businesses are set to decline by 6.03 percent this October, according to a statement from the Department of Workforce Development.

That could result in an estimated $134 million in annual savings for businesses, the Tuesday statement noted. It’s the third year that workers’ compensation rates have declined, following an 8.46 percent decrease last year and a 3.19 percent decline in 2016.

“A safe workplace results in a more productive and profitable one for employers,” Ted Nickel, insurance commissioner, said in a statement. "Employers are recognizing the relation between their employees' safety and the savings that ensue as premiums continue to decline."

Mark Grapentine, senior vice president of government relations for the Wisconsin Medical Society, said the report shows that “good news keeps coming” for the state’s workers’ compensation program.

“We’re already a national model, with faster return to work, fantastic patient satisfaction and ready access to the highest-quality healthcare in the nation – all at a cost per claim that is below the national average,” he wrote in an email. “Another significant insurance rate reduction is just more evidence that Wisconsin’s system is win-win for both businesses and their employees.”

Grapentine added that there’s room for improvement, pointing to a need for the state’s on-the-job injury rate drop below the national average. He added that healthcare providers are “always striving to find better ways to improve care.”

Chris Reader, director of health and human resources policy, also lauded the announcement. He said the reduction follows a national trend as employers and workers have invested in and focused on safety. But he noted that costs for medical treatment for workplace injuries are on the rise.

“Had Wisconsin enacted a medical fee schedule like almost every other state, medical costs also would have been kept in check and the insurance reduction today would have been even greater," he wrote in an email.

Reader also argued that the rate reduction doesn’t mean much to fully-insured employers who don’t pay insurance costs and are left footing “incredibly high medical bills.”

Proposals to establish a fee schedule haven't gained traction with lawmakers.

Read the Capitol Hill Report

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 02:52:49 GMT

Read the Capitol Hill Report

June 25, 2018

Neurology Well-represented at the AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates annual meeting in Chicago wrapped up on June 13. The House of Delegates is the policymaking body of the AMA and is comprised of more than 600 delegates from state medical associations and national medical specialty societies. Delegates bring resolutions to the meeting on topics important to their states or specialties and the House debates them to determine which ones should be voted as official policy of the AMA.

It was a productive meeting for the AAN delegation, which co-sponsored four resolutions and participated in active debate on several Academy priorities. "The Academy and neurologists' presence was noticeable in this meeting," said delegation Chair Shannon Kilgore. "From working with other societies to craft language and cosponsor resolutions, to networking with our fellow neurologists representing state societies, to welcoming incoming and current resident neurologists to our deliberations, the AAN was able to extend the reach of our positions. As a small delegation, this collaboration was important to accomplishing common neurology goals." Dr. Kilgore represented neurology to the entire House of Delegates as Chair and Moderator of the Reference Committee on Public Health, and neurologist Joshua Cohen, MD, spoke to all delegates as Chair of the AMA Foundation.

A big thanks to the AAN delegation: Chair Shannon Kilgore, MD, FAAN; Delegates Nicholas Johnson, MD, FAAN, and Mark Milstein, MD, FAAN; Alternate Delegates Skip Davison, MD, FAAN, and Eddie Patton, MD, MS; Young Physician Delegate Ann Murray, MD; and Resident and Fellow Delegate Jonathan Santoro, MD.

Close to fifteen resolutions addressed the high cost of prescription drugs. The AAN delegation cosponsored resolutions supporting reforms to the Orphan Drug Act, transparency for pharmacy benefit managers, and improving support for biosimilar development. The latter two resolutions were both adopted as AMA policy. The House voted for further study into potential changes to the Orphan Drug Act and that report will be shared at the 2018 interim meeting.
Medical marijuana and opioids were also widely discussed. Delegates debated the importance of education for physicians and patients and the need for universal terms to describe the different types of medical cannabis products. The House also voted to remove barriers to opioid-use disorder treatment following an emotional speech from US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, about the impact the opioid epidemic has had in his own family. Psychiatrist and AMA President-elect Patrice Harris, MD, chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force, will continue to elevate this issue and other neuroscience priorities over the next year. AAN member David B. Watson, MD, FAAN, represents the Academy on the AMA Opioid Task Force.
Delegates debated other hot topics throughout the meeting, including:
- Immigration: The AMA adopted new policy that opposes the practice of separating migrating children from their caregivers in the absence of immediate physical or emotional threats to the child's well-being and urges the federal government to withdraw its policy of requiring separation of migrating children from their caregivers. The AAN supports this policy to protect the neurologic health and well-being of migrant children.
- Gun violence: Delegates adopted comprehensive policy on gun violence that allows the AMA to support limits on access to firearms for persons with domestic violence records, recognize the role of firearms in suicides, advocate for schools to remain gun-free zones, oppose concealed carry reciprocity, and support bans on assault-type weapons, bump stocks, high-capacity magazines, and armor piercing bullets.
- Physician-assisted death: An AMA report on aid-in-dying was referred for further study. During the debate, delegates from several states and specialties cited the AAN's work on this topic as particularly thoughtful and well-developed policy on this topic.

Early Registration Now Open for the 2018 Annual Conference!

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 16:47:38 GMT

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Early Registration Now Open for the 2018 Annual Conference!

October 19-20, 2018

Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI

The 2018 Conference will include presentations on:

Advocacy in the Legislature
Therapy Updates in Neurology, including Cannabinoids
Role of Telemedicine in Expanding Access to Neurological Care
Multiple Sclerosis & Evolution of Therapies
Physician Burnout
Movement Disorders and Evolving Approaches
Headache and Chronic Migraines Session
The Role of Neurohospitalists and Advanced Practice Providers
And More!

Be sure to LOGIN first and REGISTER today for this great Conference!

More details regarding speaker details who will bring you the most up to date information on our neurology practice coming soon! The 2018 Conference will again include the Forster Award and the Bennett Hiner Award - details here.

Become a 2018 Wisconsin Neurological Society Member!

It is that time of the year: Please renew your 2018 Membership!

Membership Renewal is open and in full swing for 2018. If you haven't, act now to renew your 2018 membership with the Wisconsin Neurological Society. The new membership year began January 1st, 2018 - get CURRENT with your professional state society to be sure you receive timely and up to date information!

The Society continues to work toward advancing the field of Neurology in Wisconsin through educational opportunities, creating a professional network, and the sharing of scientific information.

WNS Membership also provides a great member discount at the WNS Conference this fall, October 19-20, 2018 at the Osthoff Resort! We hope to see you there!

Need an invoice for payment or need to join in 2018 but have never been a WNS member? - Use the online application or download the paper application from this page.

Energy and Commerce Committee Considers 57 Opioid Bills

Tue, 29 May 2018 14:49:57 GMT

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce completed its markup of 57 bills relating to the opioid crisis last week. The wide-ranging bills authorize more than $1 billion in new funding to address the opioid crisis and include regulatory actions, data and reporting requirements, treatment protocols, treatment centers, grants and loan assistance. The bills also address changes for Medicaid, Medicare and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The new funding, which totals $1,060,500,000, is earmarked for the following:

$440.5 million for treatment protocols related to infection education related to injections ($220 million), reauthorization of the Poison Control Centers ($155.5 million), hospital protocols ($80 million), and demonstration projects for substance use disorder (SUD) ($5 million).
$250 million for a loan repayment program for SUD providers.
$195 million for new grants for public health laboratories and community recovery programs.
$110 million for the FDA to increase seizure authority for illicit and counterfeit drugs being shipped through the mail.
$60 million for new treatment centers being established as “Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers.”
$5 million for reporting purposes.

The bills now move to the full U.S. House of Representatives for action, which is expected sometime this summer.

For more information on the individual bills, visit the Energy and Commerce site on opioid legislation, or contact H.J. Waukau, the Society’s manager of advocacy and regulatory affairs.

Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness Opportunity Available for Limited Time

Tue, 29 May 2018 14:07:09 GMT

Physicians who were previously ineligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program may now qualify under a temporary opportunity announced yesterday by Federal Student Aid. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 has made possible limited funding on a first-come, first-serve basis for loan forgiveness of some or all payments of Federal Direct loans.

To find out if you are eligible, to learn more about the program or to apply, visit StudentAid.gov. Borrowers with questions also may contact FedLoan Servicing at 855.265.4038 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

Remembering Neurologist Norman Clark Reynolds, Jr. - Memorial Service Posted

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:06:43 GMT

WNS sends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Norman Clark Reynolds, who passed away earlier this year.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 14th, at 11:00 AM CT at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Milwaukee.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Churchwhere he dedicated much of his time in his post-retirement years.

Obituary for Norman Clark Reynolds , Jr. can be found here: http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com/obituary/norman-reynolds-jr

Dr. Reynolds is pictured above when he was President of the WNS in 2008 at the annual meeting.

Senator Leah Vukmir to Headline April 10 Event

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:47:24 GMT

Join us for lunch and discussion with Sen. Leah Vukmir, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. The Brookfield Republican will talk about the past session's major health-related initiatives and what's next for healthcare in the state. Register here.

IPFCF Board Approves Fund Fee Decrease

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:44:04 GMT

IPFCF Board Approves Fund Fee Decrease

March 23, Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance and Financial Services

The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (Fund) Board this week approved a 10 percent decrease in Fund fees for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. This is the sixth decrease approved by the Fund Board in as many years.

Wisconsin’s excellent medical liability environment is good for your organization’s business: money not spent to obtain coverage and settle claims can be allocated to improve quality and the overall patient experience.

Your Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) continues to work vigilantly to preserve Wisconsin’s relatively stable medical liability environment, most recently by filing amicus briefs at both the appellate and Supreme Court level in Mayo v. the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund—a case that has challenged the constitutionality of the state’s cap on noneconomic damages in medical liability cases. We are also maintaining our active involvement in the primary insurance market, working with our exclusive partner, ProAssurance. Additionally, the WMS Holdings Risk Purchasing Group and Captive are designed to help health systems decrease liability costs and improve quality and efficiency.

The Society was influential in obtaining this rate reduction through its participation on the Fund Board. This is a great example of how the Society’s advocacy efforts—which the profits generated by Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance & Financial Services help support—benefit the medical community in Wisconsin.

Don't hesitate to email me or call me at 608.442.3738 if you have any questions about this or for other insurance-related matters.

Very truly yours, Shawna Bertalot, President

Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance and Financial Services

2018 Exhibitor Opportunities - October 19-20, 2018 - Register Today!

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 09:51:04 GMT

Join WNS at the 2018 Annual Conference

at the Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI

This year’s meeting promises to continue the tradition of offering high-quality education to neurologists while at the same time offering product representatives an opportunity to interact with health care providers in a relaxed atmosphere.

EXHIBIT INFORMATION

Exhibit displays include:

8’ skirted table with two chairs and electricity if requested.

Two representatives allowed per space. If more than two representatives wish to attend, additional registration badges may be purchased.

Non-competitive exhibitor viewing times.

Roster of attendees distributed at the time of the meeting.

Complimentary meals and refreshments during exhibit hours.

Inclusion in the exhibitor listing on the WNS website.

Attendance at the Friday evening reception.

Exhibit Fee

$1000 Profit Organizations

$500 Non Profit Organizations

LEARN MORE

2018 Annual Conference Announced - October 19-20 @ the Osthoff Resort!

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:49:45 GMT

SAVE THE DATE for the 2018 Annual Conference at the Osthoff Resort, October 19-20, 2018. More details regarding speakers and presentations bringing you the most up to date information on our neurology practice coming soon! The 2018 Conference will again include the Forster Award and the Bennett Hiner Award - details here.

If you haven't, now is the time to join and support your Wisconsin Neurological Society! Be sure to get CURRENT with your professional state society! By joining or renewing today, membership provides a great member discount at the WNS Conference, and you are current until December 31, 2018! *Please note, WNS membership for residents has mid-year renewal.

The Society continues to work toward advancing the field of Neurology in Wisconsin through educational opportunities, creating a professional network, and the sharing of scientific information.

WNS current members - You can also login and renew using your username.

Need an invoice for payment or need to apply for 2018 membership? - Use the online application or download and fill out the paper application.

Thank you in advance for your membership with the Society! We look forward to a successful 2018 working with you.

LOCATION & LODGING for the 2018 Annual Conference

It's never to early to book your hotel room! Rooms are now available at the Osthoff Resort at the special group rate of $139 for one bedroom suites, and $159 for two bedroom suites. To guarantee this rate, and to ensure a room will be available, reservations must be made by September 19, 2018.

To make your reservation, please call 800-876-3399 and press prompt #1, state that you are with WI Neurological Society.

For driving directions please visit: www.osthoff.com/directions

Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the WNS Annual Conference, please contact the WNS office at 920-560-5622 or email WNS@badgerbay.co.

Doctor Day 2018 draws record crowd

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 14:45:15 GMT

*From Wisconsin Medigram (February 1)

Doctor Day 2018 brought more than 450 physicians and medical students from across the state to Madison to meet with legislators and their staffs on Tuesday. Key issues included a proposed Worker’s Compensation fee schedule, a bill allowing chiropractors to perform comprehensive sports physicals for high school and college athletes, and legislation removing the requirement for certain nurses to work in collaboration with a physician.

Prior to meeting with legislators at the State Capitol, attendees heard from speakers including Gov. Scott Walker, who highlighted his Health Care Stability Plan to lower individual health care premium costs, provide seniors with greater health care stability, and protect those with preexisting conditions. He also discussed recent initiatives to combat the opioid crisis in Wisconsin.

“Addiction knows no boundaries. It involves all of us,” he said. “Over the past four years I’ve had the honor of signing 28 pieces of legislation that have come out of the HOPE agenda, but there is still more work to be done.

“We can’t afford to have anybody on the sidelines, and that includes those suffering from addiction today,” he continued. “We need to get them healthy, back up on their feet again, and right back into the workforce where they can lead strong and healthy and safe lives and be a part of making this state even better going forward.” (Click here to watch Gov. Walker’s full address on Wisconsin Eye.)

In addition to hearing from Governor Walker and other speakers, attendees participated in an issue briefing before heading to the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers.

Now in its fifth year, Doctor Day is a partnership among the Wisconsin Medical Society and other key physician groups and physician-led organizations. The day-long event provides a unique opportunity for physicians from across the state to collaborate and share with policymakers facts and data on timely health care issues.

“As physicians, we have the privilege of caring for patients every day, and when we come together for Doctor Day, we are reminded how important it is to also have a voice outside the exam room,” said Society President Noel Deep, MD. “Doctor Day continues to grow each year, and it’s incredibly gratifying to see physicians from all specialties and practice types united to advocate on behalf of patients and the medical profession.”

Today’s participants represented 24 different physician organizations and partners: the Wisconsin Medical Society, Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Axley Brynelson, Association of Wisconsin Surgery Centers, Brown County Medical Society, Waukesha County Medical Society, Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, Wisconsin Academy of Ophthalmology, Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology, Wisconsin Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians, Wisconsin Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Wisconsin Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Wisconsin Dermatological Society, Wisconsin Neurological Society, Wisconsin Orthopaedic Society, Wisconsin Psychiatric Association, Wisconsin Radiological Society, Wisconsin Section-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine, Wisconsin Society of Anesthesiologists, Wisconsin Society of Pathologists, Wisconsin Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Wisconsin Surgical Society.

WNS Sponsors 2018 Doctor Day

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 11:55:36 GMT

WNS was proud to sponsor the 2018 WI Doctor Day, which drew over 450 physicians and medical students to the Capitol to improve patient care. WNS was amongst a variety of sponsors for the event that continues to grow, proving the medical community's unified commitment to advocating for issues affecting physicians and their patients. The multi-specialty nature of Doctor Day has quickly become one of the largest state Advocacy Day events for physicians in the country.

Doctor Day 2018 had more than 10 physicians who indicated neurology as their specialty in attendance, our highest number to date. We look forward to continued work on behalf of our members and our patients in 2018!

Closed-loop neurotechnology improves PTSD symptoms

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:16:54 GMT

Closed-loop neurotechnology improves PTSD symptoms
HealthDay News
Service members and veterans show reductions in post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptomatology, insomnia, depression, and anxiety with use of high-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM), a closed-loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology, according to a study published online in Military Medical Research.

Bill allows free clinic doctors, dentists to apply for loan forgiveness program

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:13:31 GMT

December 20, Wisconsin Health News

An Assembly committee is planning to take up a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would allow providers in free and charitable clinics to apply for a loan forgiveness program that now targets those working in underserved areas.

The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health administers the program for those who practice in federally-designated shortage areas for healthcare providers or for federally qualified health centers. The bill would add workers at free and charitable clinics to that list.

Under the program, physicians and dentists working 32 hours a week for three years are eligible to have up to $50,000 of their loans repaid. Physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, dental hygienists and nurse practitioners who work the same amount of time may receive up to $25,000 in loan forgiveness.

Sara Nichols, executive director of Open Arms Free Clinic in Elkhorn, told lawmakers at a public hearing last week that they recently received a federal grant to hire a dentist and dental hygienist.

“We can’t hire a hygienist,” she said. “We can’t find them. We have no carrot to wave because we have no loan forgiveness program.”

Lake Area Free Clinic in Oconomowoc recently opened its own dental clinic and is planning to hire two full-time dentists, according to Medical Director Dr. Peter Geiss.

“We’re not really competitive right now, and it’s difficult for us to hire dentists as well as dental hygienists,” he said. The bill “would help us dramatically,” he said.

Katherine Gaulke, Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics executive director, said they pursued the legislation in part because the Department of Health Services ended a waiver that allowed dentists to volunteer and serve BadgerCare patients in free clinics without having to be certified by the program.

“We just want to get on an even playing field with the other partners in the safety net,” she said.

The program now serves around 20 out of 50 applicants a year, said John Eich, director of the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.

The proposal doesn’t add new money to the program, and Eich said that additional applicants would be judged “on equal footing” with existing applicants.

He doesn’t anticipate seeing many additional applicants under the bill as it’s “very unusual” for providers to volunteer that amount of time or be paid by a clinic.

Sign-up Now for Doctor Day 2018

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:58:28 GMT

Sign-up Now for Doctor Day 2018

Doctor Day 2018 is fast approaching and it’s important that physicians like YOU participate in our annual advocacy event in Madison on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

It’s a full day of speakers, issue briefings and a visit to the Capitol to advocate on behalf of your profession. The day will conclude with a reception at DLUX. The tentative schedule and online registration can be found at widoctorday.org. The event is free to all physicians and medical students thanks to very generous support from sponsorship organizations.

Each year, Doctor Day attendees hear from some of the leading voices in Wisconsin politics and health care policy. We’re awaiting final confirmation from speakers, but physicians attending Doctor Day 2018 will enjoy the same high-level experience. Also, our speakers will update physicians on health care issues still under debate in the State Capitol. The January 30 meeting date coincides nicely with the final days of the state legislature’s activity, and therefore puts physicians in policymakers’ offices at the best time to maximize impact on the issues physicians care about.

Physicians also will hear the latest regarding Wisconsin's cap on noneconomic damages in medical liability cases—currently being heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. One of the state’s top medical liability attorneys, Guy J. DuBeau, will explain how a lone case—tried in Milwaukee County—left Wisconsin with no limit on noneconomic damages and what physician organizations are doing to fix that problem.

Staff and committee members will take care of every detail—from breakfast, briefings, speakers, lunch and scheduling your visits with legislators to the reception at the end of the day!

Please consider joining us for a great day of advocacy on behalf of your profession and your patients! Register now on the Doctor Day website (link).

Wisconsin Health News: Jan 9 Panel Series Event: Dental care for underserved populations

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:37:07 GMT

As the integration of dental care and healthcare steams ahead, access remains an issue for many low-income and special needs populations. A Wisconsin Health News panel will examine what’s being done to address the challenge, as well as the implications of unmet oral health needs.

Confirmed Panelists (additional panelists to be announced soon):

· Matt Crespin, Associate Director, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin
· Dr Monica Hebl, Wisconsin Dental Association
· Greg Nycz, Executive Director, Family Health Center of Marshfield
· Laura Rose, Vice President of Policy Development, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Heifetz to resign as Medicaid director

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 19:59:31 GMT

Heifetz to resign as Medicaid director

December 6, Wisconsin Health News

The Department of Health Services has accepted the resignation of Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz, who is leaving for the private sector, according to a Tuesday statement.

Heifetz, who also serves as administrator of the Division of Medicaid Services, will leave the department Dec. 13. Deputy Administrator Casey Himebauch will serve as the division's interim leader.

“Michael has been invaluable in his role as Medicaid director, representing Wisconsin’s vision for the future in the national spotlight,” DHS Secretary Linda Seemeyer said in a statement. “We will greatly miss his leadership and insight, as well as his candor and energy.”

A DHS spokeswoman said that Heifetz is "pursuing career opportunities" in the private sector. She did not respond to a question asking for more specifics.

Heifetz joined the department as Medicaid director in September of last year. He previously served as state budget director. Before that, he was vice president of governmental affairs at Dean Clinic and SSM Health of Wisconsin.

Heifetz has also left his position on the Group Insurance Board and was replaced by State Budget Director Waylon Hurlburt in October.

November 2017 State Neurosociety Update

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:45:02 GMT

State Legislative Update

For most states, the 2017 legislative session has concluded. 2018 sessions start in January/February.
The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 22. 2 states currently have active legislation. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine across state lines.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

Federal Legislative Update

Congress has several issues to address before the end of the year including funding the government, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization, and access to telestroke. The AAN sent an action alert to urge members of Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible, please respond if you haven’t already.
AAN member and child neurologist Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, MD, was elected to be the next governor of Virginia. Northam has been an AAN member since 1990 and will soon serve in the highest elected office ever held by a neurologist.
The AAN participated in the American Medical Association’s 2017 Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates. Resolutions covered a number of topics important to neurology including the Quality Payment Program (QPP), drug pricing, physician burnout, reimbursement, medical marijuana, electronic health records, and opioids.

Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

Medical Economics Update

The 2017 Neurology Compensation and Productivity report and interactive dashboard is now available! It is free to members who participated in the most recent survey and a small fee for those who did not participate. Find it in the AAN Store.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) published the 2018 final Medicare physician fee schedule in early November. In the rule CMS reduced penalties and reporting requirements for several Medicare Programs. Learn more about the impact on Neurology and view final 2018 Medicare values.

For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage

AAN Membership Update

A new regional conference is scheduled for January 13 through 15, 2018, concurrent with the Breakthroughs in Neurology Conference in Orlando, FL. Career Essentials Conference: Foundation for Your Future is geared toward early career neurologists who are three to five years’ post-residency.
Be sure to join the Consortium of Neurology Advanced Practice Providers on Synapse, and share with your APP colleagues. Ask questions of APPs, network, and share resources.
The AAN Advanced Practice Provider Scholarship is now open. The AAN will be awarding two $2000 scholarships to help fund APP participation at the Annual Meeting. If you are interested in nominating an APP or applying yourself, please click here for more information.
The new Career Essentials Conference for early career members is now open for registration. The conference is designed for members no more than five years post-residency to learn the business, financial planning, and other skills that are not covered in residency. Spread the word about this family-friendly conference to be held in Orlando, FL, January 13–15, co-located with the Breakthroughs in Neurology conference.
Registration is also open for the 2018 AAN Breakthroughs in Neurology Conference, January 12-15, 2018, at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL. The conference provides an opportunity to gain a year-in-review of the best neurology science and education in one convenient weekend.

Quality and Guidelines Update

Comment on the universal neurology quality measurement set in November. 12 quality measures designed to improve care for patients with neurological disorders. Your comments will help improve feasibility prior to their finalization.
Check this page in November for several guidelines that will be posting for public comment.
The Axon Registry is a Qualified Clinical Data Registry that gives providers the opportunity to satisfy three of the MIPS requirements. If you haven’t done so already, get your name on the wait list today to participate in 2018!
Read the new AAN practice guideline “Cervical and Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing” and access the clinician summary and patient summary.

Neuro Summit 2018 - September 26-27, 2018

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 19:32:11 GMT

Neuro Summit 2018 respects all the scholastic and business specialists working in the field of Neurology and Neuroscience to World Summit on Neurology and Neuroscience which will be occurring in Montreal, Canada amid September 26-27, 2018.
We welcome you to oblige us at the Neuro Summit 2018, where you will make a point to have a fundamental relationship with investigators from around the globe. All individuals from the Neuro Summit 2018 managing board imagine meeting you in Montreal, Canada.

World summit on Neurology and Neuroscience is a unique social occasion to join general perceived scholastics and specialists working in the diverse fields of neurology and neuroscience sciences, scientist wearing down mind investigators, analysts, educational analysts, prosperity specialists, pharmaceutical association’s delegates, industry masters, specialists and various more to regularly exchange the investigation and headways.
Purpose of this social affair is engage new musings for treatment that will be productive over the scope of Neurology.
World summit on Neurology and Neuroscience, symposiums, workshops et cetera will give a conferred stage to the change, execution and exchange of information about Neuroscience and its related branches.

For more details please visit https://neurosummit.neurologyconference.com/
Other Reason
Get-together of world class experts and developing capacity from over the globe.
Exhibit yours investigation and get world affirmation.
Profit chances to associate with unimaginably well-known analysts.
Flawlessly sketched out schedule: Workshop, Expo districts, gatherings to create new thoughts and some more.
Stage to facilitate with related basic care clinicians.
Instructive workshops on investigation and treatment of neurological diseases."

Deputy Insurance Commission to headline last WHN Event of the Year

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:37:03 GMT

Deputy Insurance Commissioner J.P. Wieske will outline what a Wisconsin version of the Affordable Care Act could look like at a Dec. 13 Newsmaker Event.

Wieske announced this fall the state is considering applying for a 1332 waiver from the law, which allows states to develop unique solutions for providing affordable healthcare coverage. Wieske will discuss the state’s next steps, as well as provide an update on open enrollment and the current insurance market.

Wieske has served as the state's deputy insurance commissioner since 2016. Before that he was the department's legislative liaison and public information officer for five years. He previously served as the executive director of the Council of Affordable Health Insurance.

Society Selects New CEO

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 12:35:23 GMT

Society Selects New CEO

November 3, WMS Medigram

The Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors has named Clyde “Bud” Chumbley, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve as the next CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society; I consider it a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Chumbley, who will begin on November 27. “Having been a Society member for 37 years, I’m a firm believer in its mission to advance the health of the people of Wisconsin by ensuring access to high-quality, cost-efficient care. And I look forward to drawing on my experience to further strengthen the Society so we can continue to make a difference for our patients and our profession.”

In addition to caring for patients as a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist throughout his 36-year medical career, Dr. Chumbley has held numerous leadership and management positions, including serving nearly 20 years as president and CEO of a large, independent multi-specialty medical group practice. He currently serves as chief medical adviser for Wisconsin Medical Society Holdings and as chief medical officer for the Wisconsin Medical Society Holdings Association Health Plan.

Past leadership roles in Wisconsin include serving as chief medical officer/chief clinical integration officer for Aspirus Health and president of Aspirus Clinics, and as president and CEO of ProHealth Care Medical Associates. He also has served on the board of directors and as past chair and treasurer for the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality. In Texas, he served as chief medical officer for Scott & White Healthcare in the Austin region.

Doctor Chumbley is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and holds medical licenses in Wisconsin and Texas.

“We were fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates interested in this position,” said Jerry Halverson, MD, chair of the Society’s Board of Directors and co-chair of the search committee. “Doctor Chumbley is an excellent advocate for physicians and the patients we serve, and with his extensive administrative experience and medical expertise, we believe he is an outstanding choice to lead the Society. We look forward to all we can accomplish under his leadership.”

Doctor Chumbley is the eighth Society CEO in its 176-year history. Susan L. Turney, MD, MS, FACMPE, FACP, was the first physician to hold the position from 2004 to 2011.

Wisconsin Neurological Society Announces Francis M. Forster Research Awards

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:32:43 GMT

Wisconsin Neurological Society Announces Francis M. Forster Research Awards

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

The award is named for Francis M. Forster, MD, one of the founders of the American Academy of Neurology. He was considered an internationally-recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and a prominent neurologist. Doctor Forster served as Chairman of the Departments of Neurology at Georgetown University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and proudly mentored and trained residents throughout his career.

We'd like to congratulate Drs. Gregory Rozansky, Thanjuaa Subramaniam, and this year's winner Dr. Sadhana Murali for their outstanding work in the field of neurology.

Francis M. Forster Research Award Reminder

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:14:26 GMT

Wisconsin Neurological Society - Francis M. Forster Research Award

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

Program Directors from the Neurology Residency Programs at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison each identify two residents with outstanding research abstracts to compete for the annual Award. In the selection process, priority is given to true research projects, although high quality and comprehensive case presentations may also be considered.

Residents who have been selected for the competition each submit their abstracts and are invited to present their research at the WNS Annual Meeting. After all presentations are complete, one winner is selected by a vote of all non-resident conference attendees and presented with the annual Francis M. Forster Research Award.

Earn Continuing Education Credit at the 2017 WNS Conference

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:12:24 GMT

October 27-28, 2017
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI

The 2017 conference will include presentations on:

DSPS Required Opioid Education
EMG Vignettes
Stroke/Neurocritical Care: Overview and Special Topics
Epilepsy Monitoring: Uses and Current Research
Summary of the ABPN MOC Program
A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Sleep and Cognition

Click here to view the full flyer, or REGISTER TODAY!

Vendor Prospectus Available - Please share with organizations that may be interested!

LOCATION & LODGING - Deadline Approaching!

Rooms are available at the Osthoff Resort at the special group rate of $129 for one bedroom suites. To guarantee this rate, and to ensure a room will be available, reservations must be made by September 22, 2017.

To make your reservation, please call 800-876-3399 and press prompt #1, state that you are with WI Neurological Society.

Deadline EXTENDED to August 31 for the Bennett Hiner Research Award

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:43:50 GMT

Apply for the Bennett Hiner Research Award-Deadline EXTENDED to August 31

The Wisconsin Neurological Society is still accepting applications for the Bennett Hiner Research Award with an EXTENDED deadline of August 31. The Award is presenting to a medical student enrolled at one of the state’s medical schools in recognition for extra-ordinary service, leadership and research in the neurosciences. Please share with your colleagues this important award!

This award is in memory of Bennett Hiner, son of long time Society member Dr. Bradley Hiner. Bennett passed away unexpectedly in November 2011. He was an enthusiastic and accomplished young man who was a leader in his medical school class at the University of Southern California and actively involved in neuroscience research.

Qualified applicants are medical students who must be enrolled at either the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, or the Medical College of Wisconsin; have completed neuroscience research within two (2) years of application for this award; have demonstrated leadership experience while enrolled in medical school; and have submitted the application and research abstract. An application form is available by clicking here.

American Academy of Neurology State Update

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 20:46:25 GMT

State Legislative Update

Ohio voters will have the opportunity to vote in November on the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act, a citizen-initiated ballot measure that would require state government agencies to purchase prescription drugs at prices no higher than those paid by the US Department of Veterans affairs.

The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 22. 3 states currently have active legislation, which the AAN is active in supporting. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine in multiple states.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

Federal Legislative Update

The AAN joined other medical groups in releasing a statement opposing the initial Senate health care bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. The proposed bill included provisions such as cuts to Medicaid funding that would increase the number of people without health insurance by 22 million by 2026. The Senate is currently voting on various versions of health care reform legislation, and the AAN continues to advocate for access to health insurance coverage for patients with neurologic conditions.
The Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act (H.R. 1148) now has 130 cosponsors in the House, and was featured at an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on July 20 entitled “Examining Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Medicare Program.” AAN Board member Brett Kissela, MD, FAAN, MS of the University of Cincinnati testified at the hearing on the benefits of telestroke.
The House Appropriations Committee approved the draft FY2018 Labor, HHS, and Education funding bill which includes a 3.2% increase in NIH funding for a total of $35.2 billion, including a $76 million increase in BRAIN Initiative funding.
In June, Immediate Past President Terrence L. Cascino, MD, FAAN, visited Capitol Hill after receiving an invitation from the House Doctors Caucus to discuss physician burnout. After an extended conversation, members of Congress asked Cascino for additional resources on burnout from the AAN, and indicated they are willing to bring these issues up in search of legislative and regulatory solutions.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the FY2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, which includes $10 million in funding to create at least five VA Headache Centers of Excellence. If enacted, these centers will join the VA Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s, MS, and Epilepsy.

Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

Medical Economics Update

The AAN is continuing its efforts to create awareness and educate members about MACRA and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The AAN continues to lobby on behalf of neurology, and the MACRA proposed rule, released June 20, reflects AAN recommendations around Quality Metrics and Improvement Activities that may make reporting easier for members. The AAN will submit comments by the August 2017 deadline, and the final rule is expected in the fall.
AAN advocacy yielded reduced regulatory burdens in the proposed 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule, released by CMS on July 13. The rule contains several proposals to reduce regulatory burdens that were specifically advocated for by the AAN in meetings with HHS this year. CMS is soliciting further ideas to reduce regulatory hassles on physicians and potential ways to update E/M documentation processes.

· Are you in a small or solo practice? Your views and experiences are important to us. The Academy would like to offer you the opportunity to have an AAN practice management specialist visit your office, at no cost to you, between August and October 2017. We believe it is important for the Academy to visit small and solo practices such as yours to gain a more comprehensive understanding of challenges facing our practicing members, connect these members to relevant AAN resources, and provide a feedback loop to the Academy on the value of our improvements to member resources. For more information, please contact Sochenda Nelson at stnelson@aan.com.
· Need an answer to your practice management questions? Whether you have questions concerning CPT or ICD-10 codes, payer issues, health information technology, or other practice management topics, AAN members can get answers within one business day by emailing questions to practice@aan.com.
· The 2017 Neurology Compensation and Productivity report and interactive dashboard is now available! It is free to members who participated in the most recent survey and $600 for those who did not participate. Find it in the AAN Store.

For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage

AAN Membership Update

Seven out of 10 neurology residents and five of 10 neurology fellows have one or more symptoms of burnout, according to a large study by the AAN that was published online in Neurology^® on July 5 and in print in the August 1, 2017, issue of the journal. Read the study.

Review the AAN’s 2016 accomplishments, financial results, and an outline of the 2017 strategic plan in the 2016 Annual Report: We’ve Got Your Back.

A new regional conference is scheduled for January 13 through 15, 2018, concurrent with the Breakthroughs in Neurology Conference in Orlando, FL. Career Essentials Conference: Foundation for Your Future is geared toward early career neurologists who are three to five years’ post-residency.

Quality Update

The AAN and American Psychiatric Association released the dementia management quality measurement set update on May 1. The measures and publication are available online. Select dementia management measures are available in 2017 for use in CMS’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

The Axon Registry® has been designated a Quality Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) for reporting year 2017 by CMS. This means the registry can report neurology specific quality measures under the MIPS program. Visit our website for information on how to join the Axon Registry and what it could do for your practice.

Annual WISAM Conference: Advancing the Art and Science of Addiction Prevention and Treatment in Wisconsin

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:45:15 GMT

September 14-16, 2017 (Thursday-Saturday), Pyle Center, Madison, WI

This Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine (WISAM) conference is open to individuals working in addiction prevention and treatment across disciplines, including clinicians, social workers, recovery coaches, individuals in recovery, law enforcement and public health officials. This year's conference will feature a number of workshops, lectures, and a special presentation by Joseph LMS Green (poet. performer. educator.).

Our post-conference workshops on Saturday, September 16th, 2017 will provide training for clinicians in the use of buprenorphine and naltrexone for the office-based management of substance use disorders, and in the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board Opioid Prescribing Guidelines.

Click here to download an agenda for the two day conference and the post-conference day.

Click here to register for the conference.

Appeals court strikes down cap on malpractice awards

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 17:34:04 GMT

Appeals court strikes down cap on malpractice awards

July 6, Wisconsin Health News

An appeals court struck down a state law Wednesday capping the amount of money that injured patients can receive for some malpractice claims.

The 1st District Court of Appeals ruled that a state law capping awards for noneconomic damages at $750,000 was unconstitutional. Noneconomic damages are intended to compensate for pain and suffering.

Judge Joan Kessler, who penned the majority opinion, wrote that the law imposes "an unfair and illogical burden only on catastrophically injured patients, thus denying them the equal protection of the laws."

The case involves Ascaris Mayo, who lost her limbs after she wasn't notified she had an infection after visiting a Milwaukee-area emergency room in May 2011. Mayo and her husband sued, and a jury awarded them $16.5 million for noneconomic damages.

The state's Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, which is funded by hospitals and doctors and covers large medical malpractice claims, moved to reduce that amount to the $750,000 limit. The Mayos challenged that.

Hospitals and doctors in the state were concerned about the Wednesday's ruling. Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding expects the state's Supreme Court to review the decision.

"We believe the court will uphold the well-supported and bipartisan public policy balance set by the Legislature to help ensure accessible healthcare in Wisconsin," he said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the Office of Commissioner of Insurance, which provides administrative staff to the 13-member board, didn't respond to a request for comment on whether the state would appeal the decision.

Dr. Noel Deep, Wisconsin Medical Society president, said the decision"endangers the long-term solvency of the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund and its ability to adequately compensate patients." He warned that it could incentivize "attorneys to file questionable cases in hopes of astronomical jury awards seen in other states without caps."

Dan Rottier, an attorney for the Mayos, called the society's claim regarding fund's solvency "ridiculous." The fund reported a net position of $879 million as of June 2016, according to an annual report.

Rottier said that pursuing such cases are difficult because "they're extremely expensive...these cases are not taken lightly.

Rottier said the court's decision has "implications for a few cases every year where there's horrendous injuries...it's those cases where the inequity is the most severe." He noted that applying a cap in this case would have reduced the jury award by more than 95 percent.

"I would call it 5 percent justice instead of 100 percent justice," he said.

4th International Conference on Neurology and Neuroimmunology

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 17:23:40 GMT

The 4th International Conference on Neurology and Neuroimmunology operating committee formally invite Neurology Research Team to attend as honorable speakers and Delegates at “4th International Conference on Neurology and Neuroimmunology” during Sep 18-19, 2017 in Dallas, USA.

This conference is containing sum of 15 sessions and the following sessions are: Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neuroimmunology, Auto Immune Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurotransmitters & Neuroimmune Interactions, Aging & Degeneration, Neuroendocrinology, Pediatric Neurology, Clinical Neuroimmunology, and Neuropharmacology, Stem Cells in Neuroimmunology, Novel Therapeutics, Diagnosis and Therapy.

For more information please follow: http://neuro.alliedacademies.com/

Neuroimmunology 2017 Operating Committee requires the earliest acknowledgement to secure your slot in the agenda.

Doctor Day 2018 Set for January 30th - Registration Open!

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:55:47 GMT

Doctor Day 2018 has been set for Tuesday, January 30. The event will again be held at the Monona Terrace in Madison and is hosted by over 20 medical societies.

The event provides physicians an opportunity to meet with their legislators, and have input on important health care issues. The day will conclude with a reception in downtown Madison.

Registration is available online (link).

Chiro Bill Advances to Senate – Call your Legislator Today

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:53:03 GMT

June 22, 2017

Despite opposition from 22 organizations representing physicians, nurses, physician assistants, hospitals, the WIAA, insurers and others – and support from only one (the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association) – AB 260 passed the full Assembly on Wednesday, June 21 and is now being considered in the Senate for consideration.

It is critically important for physicians to let Senators know their opposition before the Senate makes their decision about how to proceed. To find your State Senator’s office contact information, type in your home address under “Find my Legislators” (link). Please do not delay – sending an email will take you no more than 2 minutes. The coalition memo opposing the bill (link) and related infographic (link) are attached for more information.

Senate approves final special session bills targeting opioids

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 13:06:50 GMT

The Senate approved the final two proposals that are part of a special legislative session on opioids that Gov. Scott Walker called in January.

All 11 proposals that are part of that session have now passed the Legislature and await Walker's signature to become law.

The bills were based on recommendations from an interim report released in January by the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse, which was chaired by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette.

"We have a lot of work left to do on a massive epidemic that's sweeping our state," said Ashland Democratic Sen. Janet Bewley, who served on the task force as well. "We are learning that it's even bigger and more profound than we ever thought."

The Senate approved a proposal Tuesday that would provide limited legal immunity to overdose victims. Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, was the sole no vote.

The chamber also approved a bill allowing for families and others to involuntarily commit a person with drug dependence.

The Senate also voted down along party lines a Democratic amendment to the latter proposal requesting the attorney general to consider filing a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. A few states, like Ohio, have filed lawsuits against drugmakers.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, predicted that a class action lawsuit against drugmakers "is coming. It's just a matter of time...and I'm sure we'll be part of that at some point." He moved to reject the proposal as he didn't want it tied with the bill.

See a list of the special session bills.

ASK YOUR SENATOR TO OPPOSE CHIROPRACTORS’ SCOPE EXPANSION BILLS: AB 260/SB 232

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 03:05:47 GMT

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR STATE SENATOR TODAY – ASK THEM TO OPPOSE CHIROPRACTORS’ SCOPE EXPANSION BILLS: ASSEMBLY BILL 260 SENATE BILL 232 Despite opposition from 22 organizations representing physicians, nurses, physician assistants, hospitals, the WIAA, insurers and others – and support from only one (the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association) – AB 260 is expected to pass the full Assembly on Wednesday, June 21. Once passed by the Assembly, AB 260 will move to the State Senate for consideration – and it is critically important for physicians to let Senators know their opposition before the Senate makes their decision about how to proceed. To find your State Senator’s office contact information, type in your home address under “Find my Legislators” (right-hand side of this website: http://legis.wisconsin.gov). Please do not delay – sending an email will take you no more than 2 minutes.

What do AB 260/SB 232 do? Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) and Sen. Frank Lasee (R-DePere) have introduced legislation that would dramatically expand the current scope of practice for chiropractors in Wisconsin. These bills would allow Wisconsin chiropractors to conduct pre-participation physical exams for studentathletes (high school, technical colleges and 2-year UW colleges) and require that the WIAA, Wisconsin technical colleges or 2-year UW campuses to accept pre-participation exams conducted by “certified” chiropractors. The Chiropractic Exam Board is exclusively authorized to set the criteria for a chiropractor to be “certified” – there are no criteria or parameters specified in the bill. In short, comprehensive pre-participation physical exams involve examination and assessment of the musculoskeletal structures as well as an athlete’s heart and lungs, vision, neurological (concussion history), mental health and more – areas in which chiropractors have little or no training. These bills put student-athletes at risk, and represent a significant and unnecessary expansion of chiropractors’ scope. * * * * Also included in these bills, but already largely decided at the Federal level -- the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets criteria by which health providers may qualify as a certified medical examiner and conduct FMCSA driver exams. The FMCSA authorizes chiropractors to qualify as medical examiners if they meet FMCSA standards, but leaves to states the final authorization. These bills would allow Wisconsin chiropractors to become FMCSA medical examiners if they meet FMCSA’s standards.

_Toc485619971Report: Wisconsin set to get $37 billion less under AHCA than if it expanded Medicaid

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:11:43 GMT

June 13, Wisconsin Health News

As a consequence of opting out of the federal health reform law's Medicaid expansion, Wisconsin could receive an estimated $37 billion less by 2025 under the Republican healthcare proposal that passed the House earlier this year, according to a new analysis.

The American Health Care Act has "assurances" that aim to "restore equity in Medicaid spending" for the 19 states that chose not to accept federal funds to expand the program, according to a policy brief by the Missouri Hospital Association.

But the association's analysis finds that by 2025, those states would get $683.9 billion less in federal Medicaid funding than they would if they expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act.

That amounts to $36.9 billion less during that period for Wisconsin, according to data used in the report provided by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

"The report is eye-opening and should be of concern to anyone in a non-expansion state," Eric Borgerding, WHA CEO, said in a statement. "While the AHCA did attempt to provide a measure of relief to non-expansion states like ours, clearly it is insufficient and must be addressed by the U.S. Senate during their deliberations."

Rather than taking federal funding to expand the program, Wisconsin made eligibility changes to Medicaid to cover childless adults up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level and cut eligibility for parents and caretakers.

Arkansas, which previously expanded Medicaid under the ACA, is asking CMS for permission to cap eligibility at 100 percent.

At a Wisconsin Health News event last week, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said "if a state is going to be rewarded for something that Wisconsin has already done, Wisconsin should be awarded for what Wisconsin has done."

"One of my frustrations with the proposal coming out of Washington was that it basically didn't reward states like Wisconsin that did it the right way and basically continued to reward states that went a different course," he said.

Wisconsin Healthcare Leaders Oppose Chiropractor Bill

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:21:08 GMT

June 12, 2017

Leading health experts have grave concerns over AB260, mandating Wisconsin’s schools and colleges to accept physical exams completed by chiropractors. Currently primary care providers examine students for clearance to compete in athletic programs.

The coalition opposing the measure includes 19 key physician organizations, other health care providers, health systems, hospitals, academic centers and other parties with a vested interest in the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s student athletes.

“Chiropractors do not have the comprehensive medical training to provide the wrap-around care provided in the primary care office,” said Dr. David Bernhardt, a team physician for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and pediatric and adolescent sports medicine expert. “The safety of youth athletes is at stake.”

During public testimony on the bill in April, some commented that chiropractors “often have more training than physicians in certain areas,” a claim contested by physicians and others.

In contrast, a 2016 American Medical Association issue brief reports that while physicians complete 10,000+ clinical patient care hours (plus additional classroom and laboratory experience), chiropractors are required only to complete 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory and clinical experience.

Dr. Kevin Walter, Program Director for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s Primary Care Sports Medicine program, also cautioned against the proposal. "We want these young athletes to have quality screening by medical experts. When medical professionals are evaluating their health and physical readiness to participate in a sport, the exam includes so much more such as their cardiovascular condition, mental and behavioral health as well as educating them on health issues. The goal should be what is best for Wisconsin's kids and this proposal to allow chiropractors to handle these exams misses that mark."

The Assembly Committee on Health has scheduled a vote on the measure on Tuesday, June 13.

Take Action
Now is the time for physicians concerned about this bill to contact your State Assembly representatives—please feel free to use the coalition’s April 26, 2017 memo as a source for talking points; you also can share the document with your representative. To verify the contact information for your elected officials, visit the State Legislature’s website and enter your address into the box under the “Find My Legislators” section at the right of the screen.

JFC amends state budget to expand dementia specialist program

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:20:37 GMT

June 5, Wisconsin Health News

The Legislature's budget-writing committee has amended the state's next budget to expand the number of dementia care specialists in the state, rejecting the state's plans to end the program.

The Dementia Care Specialist Program embeds specialists that support those with dementia and their families as well as help foster dementia friendly communities in Aging and Disability Resource Centers.

The program is set to end this year, and Gov. Scott Walker's 2017-19 state budget didn't include funding to continue it. Department of Health Services Secretary Linda Seemeyer said in March that the department wouldn't oppose continuing the program.

The Joint Finance Committee approved a motion last month that amends the budget to provide $3.1 million over the next biennium to support the current 19 dementia specialist positions. The amendment would add an additional four positions that would start July 1, 2018.

Most of that funding, which is ongoing rather than one-time, comes through general purpose revenue, with some coming from the federal government.

"The number of Wisconsinites living with Alzheimer's and dementia continues to grow and we must ensure that these individuals and their families have adequate support," JFC member Rep. Mike Rohrkaste, R-Neenah, said in a statement. Rohrkaste led the Speaker's Task Force on Alzheimer's and Dementia last legislative session.

The retention of the program was a priority for the Alzheimer's Association, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter. Tom Hlavacek, executive director, said the specialists are playing a greater role in identifying people with dementia and connecting caregivers with resources. They often work with the association, he added.

While they requested expanding the program statewide, the addition of new staff "is a step in the right direction," he said.

"We felt that the victory was important not just for these positions, not just for expanding the program, but because it acknowledges the fact that we have an epidemic on our hands in the state of Wisconsin and across the country," he said.

Rob Gundermann, public policy director at Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, said they were a "little disappointed" with the committee's decision.

"If they're going to spend that kind of money we would have rather have seen that go into respite," he said. "We administer it for Dane County here and we're already out of money this year. There's just such a need for that and it keeps people in their homes."

Gundermann said it's "ridiculous" that the state will be spending more money on the specialists than on respite care. "We need to incentivize home care over institutionalization," he said. "That's the way you save money with this population and you do that by providing respite."

The committee also approved $100,000 over the next two years to support the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, which was requested by Gov. Scott Walker. The proposal mirrors a bill that was introduced last year by the Speaker's Task Force but didn't make it into law.

Walker officially asks for Medicaid changes

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:19:44 GMT

June 8, Wisconsin Health News

Gov. Scott Walker's Department of Health Services officially asked the federal government Wednesday to allow Wisconsin to become the first state to drug screen adult Medicaid enrollees without children. The waiver amendment also caps eligibility, imposes work requirements and charges premiums to members living below the poverty line.

DHS pared back some of the changes after receiving more than 1,000 pages of comments on the proposal.

That includes shrinking the income tiers for premiums from four tiers to two and not making anyone under 50 percent of the poverty level pay premiums. Childless adults with household incomes between 51 percent and 100 percent of the poverty level would pay $8 a month. Walker originally proposed a range of $1 a month to $10 a month for members making between 21 percent of the poverty level and 100 percent. DHS is also considering a grace period of 12 months for members that miss a payment.

In addition, the application decreases a copay for subsequent visits to the emergency room. And members who skip a drug screening can sign back up for coverage as soon as they consent to treatment, instead of waiting six months.

Walker called the application "a step in the right direction." "We're continuing to build on Wisconsin's legacy as a leader in welfare reform," he said in a statement Wednesday.

Jon Peacock, research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, said the latest changes to the proposal were "modest improvements." But they don't "change the basic problem that the waiver would add new barriers to BadgerCare participation that increase administrative costs and keep people from getting the care they need."

Last month, the state's budget committee voted to require that the panel approve the waiver amendment before it's implemented. At a Wisconsin Health News event Monday, Joint Finance Co-Chair Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said he overall supported Walker's plan, but "there's still a lot of unanswered questions in the proposal." "For us to feel comfortable that we're moving in the right direction, we believe the proposal should come back to Joint Finance and we have the opportunity to vote it up or down," he said.

Wisconsin Health News Conference

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:18:58 GMT

Get the full story on the twists and turns of federal health reform and what it means for Wisconsin at this year's Wisconsin Health News conference.

We are flying in a full slate of national speakers to provide in-depth perspective on the latest updates and developments. That includes:

· Avik Roy, a leading conservative thinker on health reform who served as a policy advisor to three Republican presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney in 2012.
· Julie Rovner, a Washington D.C.-based senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News and former reporter for NPR.

They will be joining vice presidents from the American Medical Association and America's Health Insurance Plans, as well as influential experts from Wisconsin, including:

· State Medicaid Director Mike Heifetz
· Deputy Insurance Commissioner J.P. Wieske
· Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding
· Gundersen Health System CEO Dr. Scott Rathgaber
· Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Plan President Scott Johnson
· UW Population Health Institute Program Manager Donna Friedsam
· Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality CEO Chris Queram
· Wisconsin Council on Children and Families Research Director Jon Peacock

We've also expanded network opportunities throughout the day and expect CEOs, executives and senior leaders from across the state to attend. This will be an event you don't want to miss.

AAN Report - May 2017

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:10:51 GMT

State Legislative Update

The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 18. 6 states currently have active legislation, which the AAN is supporting. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine in multiple states.
- Wondering how the compact works? Check out this short video!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

Federal Legislative Update

· Congress passed the FY2017 spending bill, which includes $34 billion for the NIH, an increase of 6.2% from FY2016. The BRAIN Initiative received $260 million, which was a request of the AAN’s Neurology on the Hill effort in February. The bill also provided substantial increases in funding for Alzheimer’s disease, telehealth, and opioid abuse.
· On May 4, 2017, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that repeals and replaces several provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Due to concerns about reduced access to health insurance coverage, the AAN and most other medical groups oppose the bill. The legislation will now advance to the Senate.
· The Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act (HR. 1148/ S. 431), now has 80 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and seven bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate. The bill has also been included in several key legislative packages. On May 15, 2017, AAN member neurologist and American Heart Association advocate Lee H. Schwamm, MD, testified in support of this legislation before the Senate Finance Committee.

Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

Medical Economics Update

New resources are available for small neurology practices to comply with the MACRA Quality Payment Program. CMS has announced new regional organizations to provide hands-on support for practices with 15 or fewer clinicians. Practices should identify the organization in their state and contact them today.
Neurologists can use the new MIPS Eligibility Tool to see if they are eligible to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System in 2017.
The AAN continues to work to reduce regulatory burdens for neurologists. AAN’s Regulatory Counsel participated in a meeting with HHS Secretary Tom Price in April to request reductions in regulatory burdens.

For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage.

AAN Membership Update

· Review the AAN’s 2016 accomplishments, financial results, and an outline of the 2017 strategic plan in the 2016 Annual Report: We’ve Got Your Back.

Quality Update

· The AAN and American Psychiatric Association released the dementia management quality measurement set update on May 1. The measures and publication are available online. Select dementia management measures are available in 2017 for use in CMS’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
· The Axon Registry® has been designated a Quality Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) for reporting year 2017 by CMS. This means the registry can report neurology specific quality measures under the MIPS program. Visit our website for information on how to join the Axon Registry and what it could do for your practice.
· “Practice Guideline: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Incidence Rates and Risk Factors” was published in Neurology during the Annual Meeting on April 24, 2017. It was codeveloped with the American Epilepsy Society and endorsed by the International Child Neurology Association.
· “Practice Guideline: Reducing Brain Injury After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation,” was published online ahead of print in Neurology on May 10, 2017. It was endorsed by the Neurocritical Care Society.

Meeting Promotion Request Form
Ready to start promoting your upcoming meeting? Complete the new Neurosociety Meeting Promotion Request Form today to promote to all AAN members in your state!

Speaker Request Form

As you put together the agenda for your 2016 meetings, consider taking advantage of the AAN’s speaker program! We have expert speakers on topics such as ICD-10, MACRA, practice management, quality measures, telemedicine, and much more. To secure a speaker for your state meeting, please refer to the State Neurosociety Speaker Request Form.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville-Riverfront
Jacksonville, FL
Register now!
AAN.com/view/ConcussionConference

Apply for the Bennett Hiner Research Award

Fri, 26 May 2017 21:18:57 GMT

The Wisconsin Neurological Society is now accepting applications for the Bennett Hiner Research Award. The Award is presenting to a medical student enrolled at one of the state’s medical schools in recognition for extra-ordinary service, leadership and research in the neurosciences.

Qualified applicants are medical students must be enrolled at either the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, or the Medical College of Wisconsin; have completed neuroscience research within two (2) years of application for this award; have demonstrated leadership experience while enrolled in medical school; and have submitted the application and research abstract. An application form is available by clicking here.

Medical students should submit their applications and abstracts to the WNS Office by July 31, 2017. A winner will be selected by August 31, and notified in early September. The Society will invite the Award winner to the WNS Annual Conference, during lunch on Saturday, October 28 at the Osthoff Resort in Sheboygan.

Please contact the WNS office at wns@badgerbay.co or 920-560-5622 with any questions.

Capitol Hill Report: AAN Advocacy on FAST Act, Drug Pricing Gains Traction

Thu, 25 May 2017 19:13:10 GMT

Capitol Hill Report: AAN Advocacy on FAST Act, Drug Pricing Gains Traction

MAY 22, 2017 - By Mike Amery, Esq., Senior Legislative Counsel

Congress is back in action after a short break and first up last week was a hearing and a vote on a top AAN priority, the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act.

Here is the latest from Washington

Senate Finance Committee Votes on the CHRONIC Care Act

The CHRONIC Care Act, S. 870, contains the FAST Act which would extend Medicare payments for telemedicine consults for stroke in urban and suburban areas as it currently does in rural hospitals.
Last Tuesday, AAN member Lee Schwamm, MD, FAHA, testified in support of FAST Act in the Senate Finance Committee, which held a hearing on the CHRONIC Care Act.
On Thursday, the Finance Committee passed the CHRONIC Care Act out of committee on a unanimous vote, making S. 870 eligible for consideration on the floor of the Senate.

Senate version of FAST Act Now Has Seven Cosponsors

Authored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), additional sponsors include Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD).

The House Version of the FAST Act Is up to 85 Cosponsors

With the addition of:

Rep. Brendan Boyle [D-PA-13]
Rep. Larry Bucshon [R-IN-8]
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan [D-CA-44]
Rep. Markwayne Mullin [R-OK-2]
Rep. David McKinley [R-WV-1]
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL-23]
Rep. Erik Paulsen [R-MN-03]
Rep. Roger Marshall [R-KS-01]

VA Developing National Telestroke Center

The Veterans Administration is developing a national telestroke center, with the first of the 10 pilot sites to go live later this year. The full center should be up and running nationally within five years.

Drug Pricing Discussions Heat Up

Public opinion is soaring that something needs to be done about drug prices. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds:
- 92% in favor of allowing Medicare to negotiate prices
- 86% support pricing transparency
- 72% support for reimportation from Canada
- 56% support for bans on direct-to-consumer advertising
David Jones, MD, chair of AAN MS Section, represented an MS Coalition in a meeting about drug prices with Health and Human Services Sec. Tom Price.
Drug companies are responding to the increased pressure from the public and Congress. Pharmaceutical company Sanofi will limit its annual drug price increases to the rate of medical inflation or provide justification for increases above that rate, according to the company's new pricing policy.

AAN Agrees to Support S. 771 by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

In line with our Prescription Drug Pricing position statement, the bill will accomplish the poll findings listed above. The AAN sent a letter of support to Franken.

HELP Committee Announces Plans to Hold Hearing on US Drug Prices

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced plans to hold a hearing on US prescription drug prices after the bipartisan request of several committee members including Al Franken (D-MN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Mike Enzi (R-WY).

Senate Confirms Commissioner of the FDA

The Senate confirmed Scott Gottlieb, MD, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration by a vote of 57 to 42. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Angus King (I-ME), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) joined all Republicans in voting in favor of the confirmation.

PALF Grad Highlighted by People Magazine

2015 PALF graduate Mitzi Payne, MD, of West Virginia, shared her success as a leader of Lily's Place, a center for newborns suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Twice a month, Payne holds a follow-up clinic for babies that have graduated from Lily's Place. Her story is highlighted in a video from People Magazine.
Last weekend, 29 new Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum (PALF) graduates joined the ranks of PALF alumni. This AAN advocacy leadership program now boasts 443 graduates since the first forum in 2003.

Management brings back fee schedule proposal for workers' compensation

Mon, 22 May 2017 14:05:41 GMT

Management brings back fee schedule proposal for workers' compensation
Wisconsin Health News

The management side of a council charged with developing changes to the state's workers' compensation system has proposed creating a fee schedule for healthcare services.

The Worker's Compensation Advisory Council, which consists of representatives from management and labor, crafts a bill that updates state law around workers' compensation every two years. Management and labor introduced their proposals at a meeting last week.

Management is calling for setting initial rates at 150 percent of Medicare rates starting in 2017. The schedule would adjust each year with the medical consumer price index.

The proposal differs from a measure that was pursued by the council four years ago but failed to make it into law, which was based on rates for surgeries and procedures negotiated by group health plans.

"The goal is the same, which is to bring cost containment to the state," said Chris Reader, an advisory council member and director of health and human resources policy at Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.

He said it's easier to construct the fee schedule using Medicare as it's difficult for the state to obtain average group health plan rates. More than 40 other states have fee schedules, he said.

Mark Grapentine, Wisconsin Medical Society senior vice president of government relations and liaison to the council, questioned why Wisconsin would want to mimic other states when it already has a successful system.

"The value of the current workers' comp system as it exists is by just about every measure fantastic," he said. "For whatever reason, the management side tends to have this fascination with sticker prices of individual procedures and not the overall cost of care."

Reader pointed to other proposals from management they believe could help with costs. That includes allowing employers to direct workers to healthcare providers and requiring providers to follow treatment guidelines.

If a provider decides to deviate from the guidelines, they would have to get prior approval. That ensures providers get employees back to work as soon as possible, he said.

"Let me be clear - most do an excellent job of getting workers back to work," he said. "But having strong treatment guidelines will ensure that everybody has to do that unless there's a good reason not to."

Grapentine said they're concerned about both proposals. Treatment guidelines could make it inefficient and frustrating for physicians to provide care to injured workers, he said.

The proposal relating to guidelines, he said, is coupled with the fee schedule approach. States with fee schedules aren't as efficient in providing care, and treatment guidelines can cut utilization. He compared it to pushing on both sides of a balloon at the same time.

"If you push on both sides of the balloon really hard, you know what happens," he said. "Why on earth would you do that to a system that people across the board think is a national model?"

Management and labor are set to negotiate over the coming months to craft an agreed-upon bill for introduction to the Legislature.

Stephanie Bloomingdale, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO and an advisory council member, declined to comment through a spokeswoman.

JFC Co-Chair Nygren to headline June 5 Newsmaker Event

Mon, 15 May 2017 16:34:11 GMT

JFC Co-Chair Nygren to headline June 5 Newsmaker Event

Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, will provide an update on the state budget, preview what's next for the HOPE agenda and discuss the outlook for other pressing healthcare legislation at a Wisconsin Health News Newsmaker Event, Monday, June 5 in Madison at the Madison Club.

The event is Monday, June 5 at the Madison Club (5 E Wilson Street, Madison). Lunch begins at 11:45; conversation starts at 12:15pm and adjourns by 1pm.

Register now

Doctors, acupuncturists blast chiropractic bill

Tue, 02 May 2017 12:42:13 GMT

Doctors, acupuncturists blast chiropractic bill
April 27, Wisconsin Health News

Doctors and acupuncturists oppose a bill that would allow chiropractors to perform physical examinations for student athletes and practice "chiropractic acupuncture" and "chiropractic dry needling" if they receive additional training.

The bill received a public hearing Wednesday before the Assembly Committee on Health.

Under the proposal, schools that require a pupil to have a physical examination to participate in sports and other activities will have to accept a physical examination completed by a chiropractor the same way it accepts those completed by doctors. The chiropractor would have to hold a certificate in health or physical examinations.

The same requirement would apply to the state's technical colleges or a two-year campus within the University of Wisconsin System that require physical examinations for students to participate in sports.

"With some additional training, doctors of chiropractic could provide a high quality exam," Mark Cassellius, a chiropractor practicing in Onalaska, told lawmakers.

Dr. Tosha Wetterneck, past president of the Wisconsin Medical Society, opposes the bill.

The physical examination isn't just focused on the athletics, but on at-risk behaviors, immunizations and other factors that might impact sports participation, she said. That requires extensive training.

"This is rocket science," she said. "This is difficult."

The bill would also allow chiropractors to practice "chiropractic acupuncture" if they complete at least 200 hours of instruction and the acupuncture examination administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

The bill would also allow chiropractors to practice "chiropractic dry needling," which involves puncturing the skin with needles to treat "neuromusculoskeletal pain and performance," if they complete 50 hours of postgraduate study.

Shawano-based chiropractor Brian Grieves said the bill could help address the opioid epidemic by increasing access to alternatives pain treatments.

"We have very limited, proven, effective non-drug options to offer people for pain," he said. "Being able to augment that by offering chiropractic acupuncture would greatly expand that access."

Elissa Gonda, chair of the legislative committee for The Wisconsin Society of Certified Acupuncturists, opposes the bill.

"Acupuncture is a serious and rigorous profession," she said. "It's not a method or technique that can be employed on an occasional basis by another healthcare practitioner."

Steve Conway, executive director of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, said they're generally supportive of the bill but they're still vetting it.

Medical Examining Board approves final telemedicine, opioid continuing medical education rules

Mon, 01 May 2017 12:40:48 GMT

Medical Examining Board approves final telemedicine, opioid continuing medical education rules
April 24, Wisconsin Health News

The Medical Examining Board approved permanent rules last week that govern the practice of telemedicine and mandate continuing medical education requirements for doctors on opioid prescribing.

The rules are expected to go into effect June 1, Department of Safety and Professional Services staff told board members.

The final telemedicine rule clarifies that a physician-patient relationship can be established through telemedicine and provides guidelines on the use of telemedicine.

The other rule requires doctors renewing their licenses to complete two hours of training on guidelines written by the board that relate to opioid prescribing. Doctors have to complete 30 hours of continuing medical education every two years.

Society raises concern over health care reform developments

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:40:09 GMT

The Wisconsin Medical Society continues to voice concerns regarding HR 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which may receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives as soon as tomorrow.

The Society sent this letter to members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation earlier today, cautioning that the MacArthur Amendment, which was introduced earlier this week, does not solve the problems inherent in the AHCA.

“Instead, it pushes those decisions to the states while leaving unanswered important questions such as whether Wisconsin’s Medicaid program will be adequately funded under the AHCA. We believe the legislation as currently drafted could have dramatic negative effects on our state’s sickest and poorest citizens,” stated Society Board Chair Jerry Halverson, MD, and President Noel Deep, MD, in the letter.

The Society’s Board of Directors suggested a set of Health System Reform Principles earlier this year that calls for any health reform plan to ensure that Medicaid is properly funded, that those who currently have health insurance maintain coverage, and that some of the key patient protections encompassed in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) such as guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions and no lifetime caps for coverage be maintained.

The MacArthur Amendment—named for its principal proponent Rep. Tom MacArthur—would allow states to apply for waivers from some of the consumer protections provided in the ACA, including the age rating ratio of 3 to 1, the requirements that health insurers must cover certain essential health benefits, and the ban on health status underwriting.

The American Medical Association (AMA) also expressed concern this afternoon in a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

“The current ban on health status underwriting protects individuals from being discriminated against by their medical conditions. Prior to the passage of the ACA, such individuals were routinely denied coverage and/or priced out of affordable coverage,” wrote AMA President James L. Madera, MD. “We are particularly concerned about allowing states to waive this requirement because it will likely lead to patients losing their coverage. Although the MacArthur Amendment states that the ban on preexisting conditions remains intact, this assurance may be illusory as health status underwriting could effectively make coverage completely unaffordable to people with preexisting conditions.”

The AMA is encouraging physicians to contact their U.S. Representative. Click here for more information.

Statewide Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 17:40:57 GMT

In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), local law enforcement agencies will be holding Drug Take Back events throughout Wisconsin on Saturday, April 29.

Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal of unused or expired drugs, while also educating the community about the potential abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal of these medications.

“More than two thirds of people who have abused prescription painkillers got them illegally from a friend or family member,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. “Wisconsinites can help cut down on prescription drug abuse by storing prescription drugs securely and disposing of unused medication through proper methods, like DOJ’s biannual Drug Take Back Day.”

Drug take back days are held each spring and fall across the country, and according to Schimel, in Wisconsin they’ve resulted in the collection and safe destruction of over 207,000 pounds of unused medications. Last October, Wisconsin ranked second behind only Texas in the volume of medication turned in.

For more information, including a list of accepted medications, visit the DOJ’s website. Additional information also is available on the “Dose of Reality” website, which features an interactive map people can use to find a drug take-back location near them

Senate education committee backs bills targeting drug addiction

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:44:25 GMT

Senate education committee backs bills targeting drug addiction
April 25, Wisconsin Health News

The Senate Committee on Education approved two bills Monday that are part of a special session ordered by Gov. Scott Walker to tackle the opioid epidemic.

A bill that would provide $50,000 to help establish a recovery charter school, which would serve 15 high school students in recovery from substance use disorder, passed out of committee 6-1. Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, voted against it.

An additional proposal providing $200,000 a year to expand the use of a substance abuse screening by the Department of Public Instruction passed 7-0. The Assembly has already approved both measures.

Wisconsin receives $7.6 million to fight opioid addiction

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 17:27:39 GMT

April 27, Wisconsin Health News

Wisconsin will receive $7.6 million from the federal government to combat opioid addiction, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday night.

HHS is providing $485 million to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and six U.S. territories. The funding, made available under the 21st Century Cures Act, will go toward prevention, treatment and recovery services.

States were awarded funding based on rates of overdose deaths and unmet need for treatment. Florida received the most money at $27.2 million, while five territories received $250,000 each.

Gov. Scott Walker directed the Department of Health Services to seek the funding in an early January executive order. DHS can re-apply for additional funding next year.

Walker approves CBD oil bill

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:26:59 GMT

April 18, Wisconsin Health News

Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill ending state penalties for those who possess cannabidiol without psychoactive effect if they have written certification from a doctor.

The bill also directs the state's Controlled Substances Board to reschedule CBD oil, which is derived from marijuana and sometimes used to treat seizures in children, within 30 days following a change at the federal level. The bill passed the Senate 31-1, and the Assembly 98-0.

The bill builds on a 2014 law that aimed to make the drug available with a prescription in the state. But supporters said that providers weren't able to prescribe the drug, which is still illegal to obtain under federal regulations.

2017 Wisconsin Health News Conference Registration Now Open

Sun, 16 Apr 2017 19:27:48 GMT

2017 Wisconsin Health News Conference

While Republicans may have walked away from the American Health Care Act, the healthcare debate is certain to continue. Will the Trump Administration fight to keep the Affordable Care Act afloat? Or will it use its power to hasten the law’s demise? Will lawmakers move left or right to forge a new deal?

In the meantime, Gov. Scott Walker is pushing ahead with Medicaid reforms that likely would not have been approved a year ago. What does it mean for the program?

National and regional healthcare experts will tackle these questions and more at the 2017 Wisconsin Health News Conference, July 19 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. Registration now open (link).

WHA Offering Education on Newly Available Expedited Physician Licensure Process

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 19:32:17 GMT

WHA Offering Education on Newly Available Expedited Physician Licensure Process

April 14, WHA Valued Voice

With the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact’s voluntary expedited licensure process becoming operational this month, WHA will be offering a 45-minute webinar on how the new Compact process can help physicians more quickly receive a Wisconsin medical license or a license in another state if the physician already holds a medical license in a Compact state. WHA General Counsel Matthew Stanford will present information on eligibility, which states are participating in the Compact, completing the application process, fees, how to maintain a Compact expedited license and considerations for utilizing the Compact expedited process versus the traditional licensure process.

The webinar, scheduled Tuesday, May 23 from 12:00-12:45 pm, is being offered through a partnership between WHA and the Wisconsin Medical Group Management Association (WMGMA). There is no fee to participate in this webinar, but pre-registration is required. Registration is now open at: www.cvent.com/d/z5qq0r.

Wisconsin joined the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact through the enactment of legislation in December 2015, which was a key legislative priority for WHA. To apply for a medical license through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact expedited process, individuals should visit https://imlcc.org.

Interstate medical licensure compact launches

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:31:14 GMT

Interstate medical licensure compact launches

April 12, Wisconsin Health News

A compact that aims to expedite the process for doctors obtaining medical licenses in multiple states launched in Wisconsin last week.

So far 18 states have passed legislation to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which aims to make it easier and faster for doctors to get a license in other participating states.

Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota have entered the agreement. Other states, including Michigan have bills pending in their legislatures that would allow them to join.

The compact began accepting and processing applications from qualified physicians on April 6, according to a statement from the commission overseeing it.

Mark Grapentine, senior vice president of government relations at the Wisconsin Medical Society, said there are still details to work out before the compact process is functional among all participating states. But Iowa and Wisconsin are ready to go, he said.

"It will greatly help physicians and patients who may cross the Mississippi River to either give or receive care," he wrote in an email.

Dr. Donn Dexter, vice chief medical officer at Mayo Clinic Health System northwest Wisconsin, said the compact will help attract doctors to the state, particularly in underserved areas.

It will also support educational efforts by making it easier to get a license in Wisconsin, allowing doctors in neighboring states to "come over and work and train in our community and hopefully stay," he said.

Brian Vamstad, government relations manager for Gundersen Health System, called the launch a "great step." The compact will help with telemedicine efforts, he said.

"It really will help us and others to meet the needs of communities," he said.

So far, doctors with licenses who are either living, employed or have 25 percent of their business in Wisconsin can apply through the compact to practice in any of the other participating states, according to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission.

Eleven states, including Minnesota, aren't comfortable serving as states of principal licensure, meaning doctors solely licensed by those states and either residing or practicing there can't use the compact until policymakers approve technical fixes.

Diane Shepard, secretary for the commission, said Minnesota is close to approving its technical fix.

New Society resource addresses ePDMP FAQs

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:30:11 GMT

New Society resource addresses ePDMP FAQs

April 13, WMS Medigram

Effective April 1, 2017, Wisconsin Act 266 requires all Wisconsin-licensed physicians and other prescribers to review a patient’s records from Wisconsin’s Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) before issuing a prescription order for a monitored prescription drug.

To help members and their health care teams assess options for compliance with this new requirement, the Society has prepared Wisconsin ePDMP: Frequently Asked Questions. Click here to download a PDF.

Part of the Wisconsin legislature’s Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda, the requirement pertains to each prescription order for a controlled substance unless one of the following exceptions applies:

1.       The patient is receiving hospice care.
2.       The prescription is for a three-day or less supply with no refills.
3.       The drug is lawfully administered to the patient.
4.       Due to an emergency, it is not possible to review the ePDMP before issuing the prescription.
5.       The practitioner is unable to review the ePDMP data because either the ePDMP or the means to access it are not operational.

Monitored prescription drugs include most Schedule II, III, IV or V controlled substances (as well as any other substance identified by the Controlled Substances Board as having a substantial potential for abuse).

Prescribers subject to this requirement must register with the ePDMP to access the system. Click here to register if you have not done so already.

Wisconsin's aging population and the future of long-term care

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 19:06:19 GMT

Wisconsin's aging population and the future of long-term care

Wisconsin's population is aging and healthcare care costs for the elderly and those needing long-term care are growing along with it. Gov. Walker's budget increases Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes and provides more money for direct care workers. Is it enough to address workforce shortages? And what's next for Family Care? After puling back its plans to overhaul the program, the administration is pushing forward with a statewide expansion. Will they incorporate other proposed program changes? Learn more at a Wisconsin Health News Panel Event May 2 in Madison.

Panelists:

· Lynn Breedlove, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Long Term Care Coalition
· Curtis Cunningham, Assistant Administrator of Long-Term Care Benefits and Programs, Department of Health Services
· Tim Garrity, Chief Innovation Officer, Community Link
· John Vander Meer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Health Care Association

Professional groups oppose proposed healthcare board consolidations

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:19:01 GMT

Professional groups oppose proposed healthcare board consolidations

Professional groups oppose a move by Gov. Scott Walker to eliminate state boards that regulate optometrists, radiographers and podiatrists as well as consolidate advisory councils and boards that oversee healthcare professions.

Walker's 2017-19 budget would end the Radiography Examining Board, the Podiatry Affiliated Credentialing Board and the Optometry Examining Board and transfer their functions, rules and pending matters to the Medical Examining Board.

The budget would also create a Medical Assistants Council, consolidating advisory councils on physician assistants and others. And it establishes a Medical Therapy Examining Board, ending boards overseeing physical therapists and others.

"Currently, taxpayer dollars are going to provide administrative services to each of the boards that are proposed to be consolidated," Alicia Bork, Department of Safety and Professional Services spokeswoman, wrote in an email. "Merging these functions...will allow efficiencies that cannot be found when separate silos exist."

The combined actions, along with other changes at DSPS, would cut state spending by $50,800 in program revenue over the next two fiscal years, according to the Legislature Fiscal Bureau. There were 1,172 optometrists, 424 podiatrists and 6,994 radiographers with active licenses in Wisconsin as of July 2016.

Peter Theo, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association, said his members have "serious concerns" about the proposal as turning regulatory control over to another profession may hurt their ability to diagnose and treat eye diseases.

"Optometrists are primary eye care providers whose regulatory independence is critical to maintaining the high standard of care needed to ensure the safe and competent practice of optometry," he said.

The Wisconsin Podiatric Medical Association raised concerns about not having representation on the Medical Examining Board.

"The Medical Examining Board cannot be expected to keep up with the advances in all of the professions that they are looking to be charged with," Dr. Bob Sage, the association's president, said in a statement. "It is unrealistic."

Sandy Helinski, legislative committee chairperson for the Wisconsin Society of Radiologic Technologists, said the elimination of the Radiography Examining Board, established in 2010, would be an "indisputable step backward in the health of Wisconsin's patients."

"Anything that could possibly dilute the effectiveness of what we've been able to accomplish in these last seven years is of great concern to us," she said.

Connie Kittleson, president of the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association, opposes eliminating of the Physical Therapy Examining Board and the creation of a Medical Therapy Examining Board.

She noted other states have tried consolidation in the past and have returned to independent boards.

"The data out there shows it doesn't make things more efficient, it doesn't save money," she said. "But more importantly, it wouldn't be worth the risk to public safety to have people who do not have expertise or training in a particular field regulating professionals of another field."

Reid Bowers, Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants' advocacy committee chair, raised concerns about the proposed Medical Assistants Council, saying it "would severely limit the ability of PAs to shape how they are regulated by the Medical Examining Board."

At a Medical Examining Board meeting last week, Chair Dr. Kenneth Simons said the budget would put them "in charge of things we have no expertise" in. Others raised similar concerns.

Tom Ryan, the board's executive director, said that the boards put under the authority of the Medical Examining Board meet three to four times a year. Doctors on the board could do "curbside consults," he said.

"I don't think it's as formidable a challenge as you would think," he said.

Mark Grapentine, senior vice president of government relations for the Wisconsin Medical Society, said the Medical Examining Board has to investigate complaints against physicians and regulate the profession.

"If adding these non-medical professions to their duties takes away from that responsibility or makes fulfilling that duty less efficient, it's difficult to divine the upsides to the proposal," he said in a statement.

April 4 WHN Event: Coordinating care coordination

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 19:34:18 GMT

April 4 WHN Event: Coordinating care coordination

Buoyed by the promise of better care and lower costs, health organizations are increasingly flocking to care coordination models. But they are not always easy to organize in today’s disjointed healthcare system and current payment structures often don’t reward the effort. Also, coordination among different programs is lacking.

A panel of experts will share their experiences from the field. Find out what’s working, what’s not and what they see as the future of care coordination. Panelists:

· Joy Tapper, Executive Director, Milwaukee Health Care Partnership

· Tom Lutzow, CEO, Independent Care Health Plan

· Jane Pirsig-Anderson, Director, Aurora Health Care Family Service

The event is Tuesday, April 4 from 11:30am – 1pm at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee (900 West Wisconsin Avenue). Register online (link).

'Rural Initiative’ legislators introduce health care bills

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:11:29 GMT

‘Rural Initiative’ legislators introduce health care bills

A group of Wisconsin State Assembly Republicans are promoting legislation this session under the “Wisconsin Rural Initiative” banner, focusing on technology, workforce, education and health care. Called the “Rural Wisconsin Matters Plan,” the group unveiled three health care-related bills* Wednesday:

· Rural system/hospital grants for allied health training—LRB 2202/1813 provides matching funds for rural health care systems or other appropriate entities that provide training for health care team members.

· Wellness facility grants—LRB 2259/2501 allows the state’s Department of Health Services to provide at least two matching grants to rural health care entities dedicated to helping wellness in the rural community. According to the Legislative Reference Bureau analysis, an entity is eligible for a grant if the application is “targeted to address community health needs identified by the applicant’s community needs assessment, including chronic illness management, occupational health services and rehabilitation services.”

· Advanced Practice Clinicians (APC) Training Grants—Similar to the allied health training grants, LRB 2476/1812 provides matching grants for clinical rotations in training APCs such as physician assistants and advanced practice nurses.

The bills are gathering legislative cosponsors through March 24, after which they will be given bill numbers and sent to legislative committees for further action.

Society submits comments on CMS Market Stabilization Rule

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 16:31:31 GMT

Society submits comments on CMS Market Stabilization Rule

The Wisconsin Medical Society last week submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its proposed “Market Stabilization Rule.” The rule is intended to stabilize the individual and small group insurance markets and to provide insurers some preliminary policy guidance while the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and American Health Care Act (AHCA) are being debated.

The proposed rule would amend existing regulations regarding guaranteed availability requirements, special enrollment periods, annual enrollment periods, standards related to network adequacy and essential community providers and actuarial value.

The Society commented on each of these provisions and incorporated additional comments from Infinity Health Care, Wisconsin Medical Group Management Association, Association of Wisconsin Surgical Centers, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and Mercy Health System Corporation.

The Society also reiterated its commitment to its health care reform principles, stating that any health care reform measures should not result in individuals losing existing coverage, place undue burdens on patients or physicians, restrict access or adversely affect affordability.

Click here to access the Society’s comments.

Assembly approves CBD oil bill

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 16:30:29 GMT

Assembly approves CBD oil bill

March 8, Wisconsin Health News

The Assembly unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that lifts state penalties for possessing cannabinoid oil, sending the bill to Gov. Scott Walker's desk.

The bill would allow patients with documentation from a doctor to possess the CBD oil, which is derived from marijuana. Under federal rules, however, the substance is still classified as a schedule I drug, making it illegal to possess.

While lawmakers voted to approve the bill, some had concerns. Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, said the bill is "not the fix that we're looking for" because it doesn't create a way for families and patients to get the drug.

"This legislation gets us to the door, but it doesn't get us in the room," Billings said. "And the problem is how do you get it?"

Bill author Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, said of the states that have legalized CBD oil, a few have dispensaries, meaning that families in other states are still gaining access to the substance.

"It is not a problem for families to obtain CBD oil in any of the states," Krug said.

Committee approves rural broadband bill

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 20:16:12 GMT

March 10, Wisconsin Health News

The Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions and Rural Issues approved a bill Thursday that would increase funding for rural broadband and add healthcare criteria the Public Service Commission should consider when awarding money.

Lawmakers take up special session bills targeting opioid epidemic

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 19:14:16 GMT

Lawmakers take up special session bills targeting opioid epidemic

March 1, Wisconsin Health News

Lawmakers are starting to take up proposals introduced as part of the special session Gov. Scott Walker called in January to fight the opioid epidemic.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a public hearing Tuesday on bills that would expand limited legal immunity to overdose victims and increase the number of investigators focused on drug trafficking and addiction at the Department of Justice. The two bills are out of 11 proposed during the session.

"Our goal is to save lives and to fight addiction and illegal drug use," Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, told committee members.

One proposal would extend limited immunity to overdose victims, building on a 2014 law that provided immunity to those who called for help. It has support from the Wisconsin Medical Society.

Harsdorf said Wisconsin is the only state with a 911 Good Samaritan law that does not extend limited immunity to both the caller and the person experiencing the overdose.

"This is a very important change for us to make to save lives," she said. The committee is set to vote on the proposal Thursday.

The other bill would provide $420,000 annually to hire four investigators in the Department of Justice. Access to illegal drugs such as heroin and meth is "far too easy in many of our communities," Harsdorf said.

"We continue to make great strides in the fight against illegal drug and addiction by increasing access to treatment and encouraging prevention programs," she said. "These additional positions will help in the fight by striking at those who are bringing the illegal drugs into the state."

Jason Smith, acting administrator of the Division of Criminal Investigation at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, said the bill would increase the number of staff in their division by four. They have 103 investigators, with about a fifth dedicated to drug enforcement.

"While heroin use remains a focus for Wisconsin law enforcement and treatment services, meth has quietly surged to a point where the number of cases, arrests and charges are on par with heroin," he told lawmakers.

March AAN Update

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 19:13:19 GMT

AAN Update

March 3, AAN

AAN provides monthly updates to state society leaders. In this month’s issue:

State Legislation

· Oregon lawmakers introduced HB2387, targeting out-of-control prescription prices, read more here.

· The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is set to launch a new campaign in NY to fight Governor Cuomo’s plan to curb drug prices, read more here.

· The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 18. 6 states currently have active legislation, which the AAN is supporting. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine in multiple states. Wondering how the compact works? Check out this short video!

· If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

Federal Legislative Update

· The AAN responded to the recent executive order temporarily suspending some foreign entry into the United States by joining with medical organizations on positions from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and sending a message to members and Annual Meeting attendees. The AAN is also exploring alternative methods for researchers who may be affected by immigration policy to present their scientific research at the AAN Annual Meeting. Learn more.

· On February 17, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) reintroduced the FAST Act.

· The AAN joined 260 organizations and institutions to send a letter to President Trump and congressional leadership, urging the completion of a FY2017 budget that includes $34.1 billion for NIH.

· David Shulkin was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to become Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Shulkin served as VA undersecretary of health since 2015, is a physician and former health care executive, and will be the first VA secretary in the department's history never to have served in the military.

· Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

Medical Economics Update

· The AAN Medical Economics & Management Committee (MEM) approved its regulatory priorities for 2017, which include: 1) Continuing MACRA advocacy with the goal to reduce burdens on neurologists while improving the Quality Payment Program; 2) Encouraging increased flexibilities for small and solo neurology practices; 3) Advocating for more accurate and improved cognitive reimbursement; and 4) Monitoring regulatory announcements from the new administration to outline further regulatory priorities as needed and address developments.

· Member awareness of the Axon Registry® has consistently increased. According to marketing survey results, 2015 member awareness was 19 percent; by June 2016 member awareness increased to 38 percent; as of November 2016, member awareness increased to 53 percent.

· The MEM and Government Relations committees met jointly in January to discuss collaborations for legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts on Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replacement, drug pricing and access, and physician burnout and regulatory hassle.

· For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage.

AAN Membership Update

· The 2017 Insights Report is now available. The report summarizes research conducted by the AAN in 2016 and also provides demographic data on members as of year-end 2016.

· A study by the AAN of neurologists in the United States shows that 60 percent of respondents had at least one symptom of burnout, and burnout is common in all neurology practice settings and subspecialties. The study was published in the January 25, 2017, online issue of Neurology®.

· A new practice management education curriculum has been developed for residents and fellows. The first webinars, a Business Basics series, are now available and will be followed by additional topics throughout 2017. Program directors may use these brief recorded webinars to enhance the practice management knowledge of their residents and fellows.

· AAN Annual Meeting registration numbers are trending higher than Vancouver. Look for the Science Program soon for information on innovative new methods of delivering scientific information to clinicians.

GIB Letter Reveals More details about Self-Insurance Process

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:23:49 GMT

February 15, Wisconsin Health News

Group Insurance Board members sent a letter last week to lawmakers, revealing more information on the process they used when deciding to self-fund and regionalize the health plan for state employees.

Their plan, approved last week, would shift the state away from a fully insured model, which involves 18 companies, to a model with six vendors. They estimate the move could save more than $60 million in the 2017-'19 state budget from reduced administrative and insurer risk fees as well as improved discounts. Department of Employee Trust Funds spokesman Mark Lamkins did not provide a further breakdown of the savings.

Any self-insurance contract is subject to approval by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee.

The board selected Compcare Health Services Insurance Corp. to offer a statewide option as well as a regional option. The other companies serving regions would be Dean Health Plan, HealthPartners Administrators, Network Health Administrative Services, Security Administrative Services and Quartz, which is affiliated with Unity Health Insurance and Gundersen Health Plan.

In a letter sent Friday to JFC co-chairs, GIB Chair Mike Farrell and board member Stacey Rolston, who is a deputy administrator in the Division of Personnel Management at the Department of Administration, wrote that those participating in the state employee health plan will have greater access to providers than are currently available to most members under a proposed move to self-insurance because CompCare has a broader network.

They also wrote that providers that are part of Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, which did not respond to an RFP on administering the program, will be included via other third party administrators. In addition, Physicians Plus, which responded to the RFP but wasn't selected as a vendor, is exploring a partnership with Unity and Gundersen, according to the letter.

According to GIB, nine companies responded to the RFP. That also included Mayo Clinic Health Solutions, the self-insurance business unit of Health Traditions Health Plan, which wasn't chosen. WEA Trust also participated in the process and did not receive an offer.

GIB noted that many of the plans with minimal participant enrollment in the program chose not to respond, including Arise, Group Health Cooperative - Eau Claire, MercyCare Health Plans and Medical Associates.

But Patrick Cranley, MercyCare chief operating officer, said GIB's characterization was "a little bit disingenuous."

"We could not respond to the RFP because the RFP required that respondents be able to serve an entire region defined by the RFP," Cranley said. He called it "a conscious decision to limit the number" of plans participating in the state program.

Cranley called the board's decision an "unfortunate choice" for the wider market as it eliminates a number of high quality community health plans from participation in the health plan.

"I think it does long-term damage to the competitive insurance market in the state of Wisconsin," he said. "You're essentially perhaps even crippling some of the plans that are smaller plans that provide important competition in the markets in which they participate."

Cranley said MercyCare serves 1,400 members in Jefferson, Rock and Walworth Counties through the state plan. That's out of 48,000 total members for his plan.

"I would prefer to continue to serve these folks and let them have access to our health plan," he added.

ETF often pursues an "aggressive education campaign" to ensure participants understand their choices under the program, according to the letter. The communication strategy for 2018 "will be unprecedented," Farrell and Rolston wrote.

The board plans to finish contract negotiations by the end of March.

Read the letter.

Lawmakers face dueling CBD oil proposals

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:22:48 GMT

February 16, Wisconsin Health News

Democratic lawmakers are circulating a proposal that would allow non-psychoactive cannabidiol oil to be manufactured in the state of Wisconsin, arguing a bill approved by the Senate last week doesn't go far enough.

The bill, authored by Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, would establish a licensure program for individuals to produce and distribute CBD oil.

Assembly lawmakers held a hearing on the Senate-approved version Wednesday. That bill allows patients to possess CBD oil without facing a state penalty if they have certification from their doctor, but doesn't allow for its sale or manufacture in Wisconsin.

Democratic lawmakers on the Assembly Committee on Children and Families questioned how people could acquire CBD oil.

"Without having dispensaries in Wisconsin, I'm worried this is not the complete fix," said Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse.

But the bill's authors said patients could purchase CBD oil online and in some neighboring states. Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said they considered including dispensaries. But he wanted to avoid regulation.

"If we took it to the regulators, we would never get this passed, not with the mindset of everybody at this point," he said. "I think the first thing we need to do is take away that fear from parents."

Senate Approves Bill Easing Access to CBD Oil

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 20:21:14 GMT

February 9, Wisconsin Health News

The Senate has approved a proposal that would lift state penalties for possession of a drug derived from marijuana used to treat seizures in children.

The bill passed 31-1, with Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, casting the no vote. An Assembly Committee is set to take up the proposal next week.

The bill, which is similar to a proposal that was blocked from passage in the Senate last year, would allow patients to possess CBD oil without facing a state penalty if they have certification from their doctor. The federal government has designated the drug Schedule I, still making it illegal.

"Parents shouldn't have to risk jail time to treat their children," the bill's author, Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a statement. "It is a sense of relief that we can ease the suffering and fear that too many parents experience trying to improve the lives of their children."

WHA Physician Quality Academy

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 20:19:17 GMT

February 8, Wisconsin Hospital Association

As you know, physicians are often assigned a role with a hospital or health system’s quality department or committee or asked to lead a quality improvement project.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has developed an important resource for physicians and advance practice providers who have an assigned role related to quality measurement and improvement within a WHA member hospital or health system. The WHA Physician Quality Academy will provide physicians the opportunity to increase their knowledge of quality improvement tools and principles; therefore, increasing the likelihood that a physician will be more successful in and comfortable with this leadership role.

The Academy offers two non-consecutive days of in-person training and access to supporting resources both between and after the live sessions.

May 10 and July 21, 2017 at the Glacier Canyon Lodge at The Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells; or
September 29 and November 3, 2017 at the Glacier Canyon Lodge at The Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells.

As part of the Academy, participants will learn to:

design and conduct quality improvement projects utilizing proven improvement models;
interpret data correctly;
facilitate physician colleague engagement in quality improvement and measurement ;and,
discuss quality requirements, medical staff functions and their link to quality improvement.

The Academy is offered twice in 2017 (dates below), allowing physicians associated with a WHA member hospital/health system to choose the cohort that works best for his/her schedule. Attendance will be limited to the first 100 registrants per cohort, so if interested, register today at http://www.cvent.com/d/wvq5nm.

March 7 Panel: The rise of prescription drug costs: What to do?

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 20:17:55 GMT

Increasing prescription drug costs have caught the attention of the President and the public. What's behind the rapid rise and how far are lawmakers willing to go?

Would allowing Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers make an impact? What about cutting taxes and regulations? And would lower prices mean less innovation? Learn more at a Wisconsin Health News Panel Event March 7 at the Madison Club (register now). Panelists:

Holly Campbell, Senior Director of Public Affairs, PhRMA
Dr. Mark Huth, CEO, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
Andy Pulvermacher, Specialty Services Supervisor, UW Health
Paul Rosowski, Senior Director, Industry Relations and Contracting, Navitus Health Solutions

AAN Membership Report

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:17:05 GMT

January 30, 2017

AAN members can now join the new Neurohealth & Integrative Neurology Section and Synapse online community. The new section will be a forum to connect neurologists and practitioners who recognize the need to investigate therapies which may have potential to preserve neurologic health, promote neurologic recovery, and increase patient wellness, including non‐pharmaceutical and complementary treatments.

Membership renewal rates were strong for 2016. The goals for the number of dues-paying US neurologists and retention rate of dues-paying US neurologists were met, along with goals for retention of Early Career members and the number of medical students.

The goal was also met for the number of members applying for Fellow status with the AAN during 2016, with a total of 217 applications submitted.

AAN Medical Economics Report

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:16:01 GMT

January 30, 2017

The 2016 Practice Management Webinar series ended strong with a total of 637 unique registrations, which is 113 higher than 2015. The series concluded with a free webinar on MACRA and the 2017 Medicare physician fee schedule; view a Q&A document on these topics. On January 18, the 2017 series of webinars began, including recurring and new topics such as advance care planning, contracting, and coding for risk. Click here for the full list.

For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage.

AAN Federal Legislative Report

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:15:06 GMT

AAN Federal Legislative Report

January 30, 2017

The AAN has met its goals for BrainPAC for 2016, in both the number of unique donors and total contributions. BrainPAC, the only political action committee in Washington dedicated to neurology, contributed to 125 candidates up for election in 2016, and 92 percent of those candidates were successful. Roughly 50 percent of the funds go to each side of the political aisle.

AAN efforts helped to cancel a Medicare Part B drug payment model. CMS announced in December that it will not finalize the drug payment model, a demonstration intended to cut costs by changing how physicians are reimbursed for the use of Medicare Part B drugs. The AAN helped lead the effort to fight this demonstration, which would have had an impact on a number of neurology practice groups.

Rep. Tom Price, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, referred to the benefits of stroke telemedicine provided by a neurologist during his confirmation hearing. When asked about the future of telemedicine he responded: “Telemedicine is one of those exciting innovations that I believe will allow for individuals to access resources from a clinical standpoint…There is a neurologist that works with telemedicine and has a network of clinics and hospitals around the state. If somebody comes in with symptoms of a stroke that physician is able to see the patient in real-time and determine whether or not they have having a stroke…Telemedicine is absolutely vital.”

AAN President Terrence L. Cascino, MD, FAAN; President Elect Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN; and Executive Director and CEO Catherine M. Rydell, CAE, met with several members of Congress on the first day of the 115th Congress to ensure that issues affecting the practice of neurology would remain a top legislative priority. Learn more in Capitol Hill Report and continue to check Capitol Hill Report for updates on the transition in Washington and how it may affect neurology.

Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

AAN State Legislative Report

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:14:04 GMT

AAN State Legislative Report
January 30, 2017

Telemedicine continues to be an important issue on the state level. 29 states currently have a telemedicine parity law and more likely to join during the 2017 legislative session. The AMA recently wrote an interesting article on where telemedicine has been, where its headed.

For California residents, the new year brings new concussion protocols for children of all ages who participate in sports. Young athletes who sustain concussions now have to go through the same return-to-play protocol as high school and college athletes.The player is not allowed to return until a medical professional clears him or her of being symptom free for a minimum of 24 hours.This expansion of ‘return-to-play’ protocol is expected to be introduced in multiple states in 2017, more to come.

The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 18. 5 states currently have active legislation, which the AAN is supporting. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine in multiple states. Wondering how the compact works? Check out this short video!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

CBD Oil Bill Unveiled

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 20:13:18 GMT

January 19, WMS Medigram

For the third time in as many state legislative sessions, a bill has been introduced related to cannabidiol (CBD) oil—one of the main active chemical compounds founds in marijuana. The proposal—being circulated for legislative sponsors before it is officially introduced—is designed to prevent state or local prosecution for possession of CBD oil if a physician certifies that a patient has a certain malady. The bill’s main sponsors are State Senators Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha) and State Assembly Representative Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa).

Previous legislation allowed CBD oil to be dispensed by a State of Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board-approved pharmacy or physician if the product was to be used as part of an FDA-approved clinical trial. That requirement has been circumvented for the most part due to the lack of clinical trials on the Schedule I substance. Under the bill, a person will be allowed to possess CBD oil if a physician has certified within the past year that the CBD oil is for treating a seizure disorder.

The law would require that the physician certification—in the form of a letter or other document – include:

· Name, address and telephone number of the physician.

· Name and address of the patient who is issued the certification.

· The date the certification is issued.

Public hearings on the proposals could come as early as this month, with committee votes and possible full State Assembly and State Senate action thereafter.

All users required to register for new ePDMP

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 20:11:47 GMT

January 19, WMS Medigram

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) launched the new Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) on Tuesday, replacing the former program.

2015 Act 266 requires physicians and other prescribers to review patient information from the ePDMP before issuing a prescription for any controlled substance beginning April 1, 2017. (More information, including exceptions to the requirement to consult the PDMP, in this nonpartisan Legislative Council memo.)

The following information is required to register for the ePDMP. (Previous logins will no longer work.)

· Last name.

· Last four digits of your social security number.

· License number.

· License type (profession).

· Specialty or primary area of practice.

· DEA number.

The ePDMP supports current browsers and two previous versions, except it only supports the current and previous version of Internet Explorer. If you experience issues, DSPS suggests that you update your browser.

Once the registration process is complete, users can begin looking up patients and managing delegates. The multistate search function will be available to both prescribers and their delegates as soon as their accounts are established. Training materials, including brief tutorial videos and information about creating and maintaining delegates are available at pdmp.wi.gov.

If you have questions or experience problems with the registration process, contact pdmp@wisconsin.gov.

Walker Calls for Special Session to Consider Opioid Bills

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 10:26:14 GMT

January 6, Wisconsin Health News

Gov. Scott Walker called for a special session of the Legislature Thursday to consider 11 bills that aim to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic.

The bills are based on recommendations from a task force that Walker convened last year, chaired by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette.

The task force released an interim report Thursday. Even though it hasn't finished its work, the opioid and heroin epidemic are "such a crisis to deal with, we need to start acting now," Walker said.

"We need to tackle this issue head on," Walker told attendees of a Wisconsin Bankers Association event in Madison Thursday. "Not because it's a quality of life, not because it's a public health issue, but because it's a key part of our workforce."

Among the proposals the Legislature will consider are bills that would in the 2017-'19 biennium provide $2 million to support new medically assisted treatment centers, $1 million for consultation services helping medical professionals connect with addiction medicine specialists and $126,000 to the rural hospital graduate training program.

Another bill would provide money to the Department of Justice to fund criminal investigation agents focused on drug trafficking. And another would expand the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment training program offered by the Department of Public Instruction.

"All of us know someone personally affected by a heroin overdose or drug death," Kleefisch said in a statement. "Together, we're going to continue this initiative as we look for new ideas and evaluate the impact of the policies we've adopted the past several years."

An additional proposal would allow school personnel that can administer life-saving drugs like EpiPens to use the anti-overdose drug Naloxone. And two more would require schedule V substances that contain codeine like some cough syrups by dispensed with a prescription and extend limited immunity from prosecution to overdose victims.

Other bills include permitting the University of Wisconsin System to open a recovery school for students who need in-patient care and allowing relatives to commit a drug-addicted family member in the same way as is currently allowed for alcoholism.

Walker's order doesn't include all the recommendations made in the report, such as providing $2 million over the next biennium for Wisconsin hospitals to hire in-house recovery coaches. His spokesman said the bills are in the final stages of draft form and will be released when introduced.

Another order signed by Walker Thursday directs state agencies to pursue a number of different initiatives to curb opioid abuse, including having the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance conduct a survey of opioid addiction treatment coverage for major insurers in Wisconsin.

"The recommendations included in this report are not the silver bullet," said Nygren, who's authored 17 laws fighting drug abuse though his Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education Agenda. "I look forward to continuing the fight."

Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding noted that the interim report includes recommendations they suggested, like providing investments in fellowship training for addiction medicine and streamlining regulations for healthcare providers that are trying to expand access to substance abuse treatment.

Wisconsin Medical Society Chief Medical Officer Dr. Donn Dexter called the package of bills "ambitious, which is exactly what dealing with this crisis demands." The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin said the proposals aim to increase access to treatments and prevent new addictions.

"We're especially excited about the investments to increase the number of providers available and in telemedicine," Bernie Sherry, senior vice president and Ministry market executive for Ascension Wisconsin, said in a statement. "This is a good day for Wisconsin."

Myranda Tanck, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said they'll likely maintain their current session calendar for when the full body meets.

Kit Beyer, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said they hope to have the bills ready for committee hearings by the end of the month.

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said the urgency of the special session is warranted.

"The opioid epidemic in our state is a very serious issue that requires a very aggressive response," Barca said in a statement. "I hope the committees will collect input from those who know this issue firsthand -from law enforcement, to educators, to medical professionals - as this will help us address this crisis in the most comprehensive manner possible."

Walker also signed an order directing the Department of Health Services to apply for funding available through the 21st Century Cures Act, which was approved by the federal government last year. The act makes $7.6 million per year available for two years to Wisconsin. His order directs the department to apply for the grants by Feb. 17.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis, said she helped lead the effort in Congress to include $1 billion in the act for the opioid epidemic.

"The opioid epidemic is not a partisan issue, and a strong partnership between the federal government and our state is essential to an effective response," she said in a statement. "This is a significant step forward for communities fighting the opioid epidemic across Wisconsin."

ePDMP Scheduled to Launch Jan. 17; Registration Required

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 08:49:24 GMT

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) plans to launch the new Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

2015 Act 266 requires physicians and other prescribers to check patient information from the ePDMP before issuing a prescription for any controlled substance beginning April 1, 2017. (More information, including exceptions to the requirement to consult the PDMP, in this nonpartisan Legislative Council memo.)

All prescribers will have to register to use the ePDMP—even if they are registered with and use the current system, which is being replaced and will not be available after Jan. 17.

The new ePDMP is designed to promote streamlined workflow integrations and improved data quality using analytics and visualizations to draw user’s attention to the most relevant and possibly concerning data in each report.

Questions about the ePDMP can be directed to pdmp@wisconsin.gov.

Report: Number of Wisconsin residents in rural residencies up 10 percent

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 08:37:12 GMT

January 5, Wisconsin Health News

The number of Wisconsin residents in accredited rural-focused residency programs jumped 10 percent from the previous year, according to a December report from the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program.

There were a total of 87 residents in the programs as of the end of November. That's up from 79 the previous year.

Between Dec. 1, 2015 and Nov. 30, 2016, WRPRAP awarded seven grants, totaling $528,866.

Some programs supported by WRPRAP are looking to bring in their first residents this year. The Aurora Lakeland Rural Training Track Family Medicine Program, which hopes to have 12 residents by July 2020, is recruiting its first four residents.

Legislature Appoints Health Committee Members

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 08:10:16 GMT

The Assembly Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services for the 2017-18 Session have been set. Committee membership is as follows:

Assembly Committee on Health

Representative Joe Sanfelippo, R- New Berlin (Chair)
Representative Kathy Bernier, R – Chippewa Falls (Vice-Chair)
Representative James Edming, R – Glen Flora
Representative Ken Skowronski, R - Franklin
Representative Jesse Kremer, R - Kewaskum
Representative Chuck Wichgers, R - Muskego
Representative Dave Murphy, R - Greenville
Representative Andre Jacque, R – De Pere
Representative Deb Kolste, D Janesville
Representative JoCasta Zamarripa, D – Milwaukee
Representative Lisa Subeck, D - Madison
Representative Chris Taylor, D - Madison

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

Senator Leah Vukmir, R – Brookfield (Chair)
Senator Terry Moulton, R – Chippewa Falls (Vice-Chair)
Senator Devin LeMahieu, R - Oostburg
Senator Jon Erpenbach, D - Middleton
Senator LaTonya Johnson, D - Milwaukee

February Newsmaker Event with Ascension's Regional Presidents

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 08:36:13 GMT

When Ascension formally acquired Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in 2016, it gave the nation's largest nonprofit health system a firm foothold in the state. Ascension Wisconsin, which also includes Ministry Health Care and Columbia St. Mary's Health System, now boasts 24 hospitals and more than 100 clinics. In August, Ascension tapped Columbia St. Mary's CEO Travis Andersen to head its south region and Wheaton executive Debra Standridge to oversee the northern part of the state. At a Wisconsin Health News Newsmaker event on Feb. 7 in Milwaukee, Andersen and Standridge will take part in a wide-ranging discussion on the system's future in the state. Register now.

When: February 7, 11:30 to 1 p.m. (discussion begins promptly at noon).

Where: Wisconsin Club, 900 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, 53233

Panelists:

Travis Anderson, south region president, Ascension Wisconsin

Debra Standridge, north region president, Ascension Wisconsin