More than 50 leaders from health care organizations and systems statewide participated in a Health Care Reform Summit hosted by the Wisconsin Medical Society on Dec. 16. The summit provided stakeholders the opportunity to learn about and discuss pending changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and featured several speakers including Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and Health and Human Services secretary; Wisconsin Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz; Richard Deem, senior vice president of advocacy for the American Medical Association; and Wisconsin Deputy Commissioner of Insurance J.P. Wieske.

The speakers addressed a number of topics including the likelihood of repeal and replacement of the ACA, the role Medicaid will play in health care reform and the possibility of a transition from an entitlement program to one financed by block and/or per capita grants, and an overview of the health insurance market in Wisconsin.

The Summit also featured a review of various health care reform proposals, including the following:

• A Better Way Health Plan—Speaker Paul Ryan
  
• Empowering Patients First Act—Rep. Tom Price, MD, Health and Human Services Secretary nominee
  
• Patient CARE Act—Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Fred Upton
  
• Improving Health and Health Care Plan—American Enterprise Institute
  
• Universal Tax Credit Plan—Avik Roy
  
• Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0—Indiana Family Social Services Administration (Medicaid reform only)
  

Following the presentations, Summit attendees identified several key areas to focus reform efforts that include ensuring those who are currently covered do not lose insurance, maintaining access to affordable and adequate coverage for low-to-moderate income populations, maintaining adequate Medicaid funding, and evaluating opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens.

A subgroup of Summit participants will continue to meet as a steering committee to help direct future advocacy efforts.

For more information, e-mail Chris Rasch, Society vice president of Advocacy and Membership.

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. 

And the UW Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program, the nation's first rural track in the specialty, will match its first resident this year after about 100 applicants competed for the position.  

"We are confident that WRPRAP's funding will continue to champion long-term, viable solutions that address the shortage of physicians in rural Wisconsin communities," the report noted.  

Read more.

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. Panelists include: 

• Travis Anderson, south region president, Ascension Wisconsin  
  
• Debra Standridge, north region president, Ascension Wisconsin  
  

This luncheon event will be held at the Wisconsin Club, 900 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, 53233. Register now.

The Wisconsin Medical Society is offering “Wisconsin Medical Examining Board Opioid Prescribing Guidelines,” a two-hour webinar available on-demand. The course satisfies the new MEB mandate requiring physicians with a DEA number to complete two continuing medical education (CME) credits on its Opioid Prescribing Guidelines during the current CME cycle, as well as another two credits during the next cycle.

Presented by Society member Michael McNett, MD, the webinar provides a comprehensive review of the guidelines. I completed it myself last week and thought it was not only outstanding, but a good reminder of the excellent work the Society does every day to meet its members’ needs. Click here to register or for more information.

December 15, WMS Medigram

The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (Fund) Board approved a 30 percent decrease in Fund fees for the 2017-2018 fiscal year on Wednesday. This is the fifth time in as many years that the Board has approved a decrease in Fund fees, and the second consecutive year fees decreased by 30 percent.

The Board’s decision to decrease fees was based on the recommendation of its actuarial committee, which noted—among other considerations—a better-than-expected return on investments and the release of previously held claims. Fund fees decreased by 30 percent in 2016-2017, 34 percent in 2015-2016, 10 percent for 2014-2015 and 5 percent for 2013-2014. Fee notices reflecting the new decrease will be mailed to physicians and other Fund participants in mid-2017.

The Fund, which was created by statute in 1975, is a trust that is set up to pay medical negligence claims that exceed physicians’ primary layer of medical liability insurance. In 2011, the state returned $200 million, plus lost earnings and interest to the Fund, following the Wisconsin Medical Society’s successful lawsuit challenging the state’s raid on the Fund in 2007.

In other business by the Board, the fees for physicians and surgeons insured through the Wisconsin Health Care Liability Insurance Plan (WHCLIP) will not change in 2017-2018, and there was no change in fees for hospital professional liability and hospital liability coverage.

WHCLIP was created by statute in 1975 as an insurer of last resort to provide the primary level of medical liability insurance to Wisconsin health care providers. WHCLIP is managed by an outside manager with oversight by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

December 15, Wisconsin Health News

Wisconsin ranks as the 20th healthiest state in the nation, up from last year when it was 24th, according to United Health Foundation's 2016 America's Health Ranking Annual Report. 

Wisconsin was one of three states to increase their ranking by four places or more. It ranked behind Minnesota and Iowa, which came in 4th and 17th respectively. But the state received a higher score than Illinois and Michigan, ranked 26th and 34th respectively.

Wisconsin had a high percentage of residents who have graduated from high school, which leads to better health outcomes, according to the report. It also had a lower uninsured rate and prevalence of diabetes compared to other states.

But Wisconsin had the second highest amount of binge drinking in the nation and a high incidence rate of whooping cough. And the state has some of the lowest per capita public health funding in the nation.

"Ranking the states in relativity to one another gives us an opportunity to look at where we can improve," said Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement.

In the past five years, drug deaths in Wisconsin have increased 23 percent from 11.4 to 14.0 deaths per 100,000. And in the last year, the number of children living in poverty has increased 13 percent from 16.2 percent to 18.3 percent.

Disparities in health status by education have decreased. Randall noted in the past, Wisconsin has had a greater disparity between the percentage of adults with a high school education reporting good or excllent health compared to those without a degree.

That disparity decreased 20 percent in the past year, from 32.2 percent to 25.8 percent.

"What we're seeing are some very favorable trends and some trends that are concerning us," Randall said. "That kind of puts us at a crossroads with our health in the United States."

She noted that nationwide the number of smokers has decreased and that the rate of uninsured Americans has hit the lowest level in history.

On the other hand, the obesity rate has increased by 157 percent since the first report in the 1990. And the 2016 report shows death rates from heart disease increasing for the first time in the report's 27-year history.

"One year is not enough to make a trend, but it's a very concerning change," she said. 

See Wisconsin's profile.

December 14, Wisconsin Health  News

The Group Insurance Board delayed a decision Tuesday on changes to the health plan for state employees, including whether to shift to a regional or self-insurance model. 

Chair Michael Farrell said the board has directed Department of Employee Trust Funds staff and Segal Consulting to gather more information and data about the proposals. The board will reconvene in January. 

"There is much complexity and volumes of information that relate to our consideration," he said. "We're not taking these decisions lightly."

During closed session Tuesday, members weighed seven scenarios offered by ETF staff, according to a memo. 

One proposal could continue the current fully insured model with minimal changes. That model would have up to 16 different vendors participating. 

Other scenarios under consideration would have between six and 11 participating vendors. Those proposals could be fully insured, self-insured or a hybrid. Some of them would divide the state into regions. 

A seventh proposal, which is not recommended by ETF or Segal, would have one or two vendors under a self-insured model. 

The board has been considering self-insurance off and on for five years according to the memo. It's also considering other changes like three-year contracts with health plans. 

Phil Dougherty, spokesman for the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, said his members "recognize that more can be done in the current competitive model to achieve the state's financial and quality goals."

"Moving to Segal's regionalization strategy would create the risk of reducing competition and choice, eliminating high quality healthcare networks and separating plan participants from their doctors and medical homes," Dougherty said in a statement. "The right answer for the state is to use the current competitive structure and Wisconsin health plans to build on what works."

Read a summary memo on the proposals and discussion.

Major changes are likely in store for the country's healthcare system. Obamacare, Medicaid and Medicare could all be in for overhauls. 

How far will lawmakers go? Will people with pre-existing conditions get to keep their coverage? What about the 22 million Americans, and 200,000 Wisconsinites, who have gained health insurance? How would the industry react to a transition period? Are they ready to start over?  Learn more at a Wisconsin Health News Panel Event Jan. 12 at the Madison Club.  Panelists include: 

• Eric Borgerding,CEO, Wisconsin Hospital Association
• Coreen Dicus-Johnson, CEO, Network Health Plan
• Donna Friedsam, Health Policy Programs Director, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
• Mike Wallace, CEO, Fort HealthCare.
  

Register now.

Building off record attendance at Doctor Day 2016, specialty societies and the Wisconsin Medical Society are expecting to draw another record attendance at the 2017 Doctor Day.  The event is scheduled in Madison on March 29.  Click  here  for a list of participating organizations. 

This annual advocacy event is timed well for physicians to be able to meet with their legislators and/or staff members, and to have input on the budget and other important health care issues. Participants will hear from Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and others, then will take part in an issue briefing before heading to the Capitol. Lunch will be provided, and the day will conclude with a reception in downtown Madison. 

Visit the Doctor Day  website  for more information and to register.

Wisconsin Health News

Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, will continue to chair the Assembly Committee on Health next session, according to a Wednesday statement.   Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem, will serve as vice chair of the committee. 

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, also reappointed Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, to serve as chair of the Assembly Committee on Mental Health. Rep. John Jagler, R-Watertown, will vice chair the committee.  Rep. Tom Weatherston, R - Caledonia, will chair the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. Rep. Warren Petryk, R-Eleva, will vice chair that committee.  Rep. Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, was tapped to chair the Assembly Committee on Insurance and Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield, was picked for vice chair. 

Vos also announced new committees for next session, including one focused on science and technology and one on regulatory licensing reform. See more committee leadership appointments.